Salmon Spawning Plunge: Rivers Face Crisis

The number of salmon returning to spawn in the North West's rivers has critically declined by 60% since 2012. This stark reduction, from an estimated 1,000 to just 400 fish, is largely linked to the impacts of climate change, which has intensified flooding and summer droughts. These environmental shifts not only affect the salmon's journey but also their delicate spawning grounds.

Experts express concern over the ongoing decline, noting that human activity has degraded river systems over centuries. Significant efforts are now being implemented by the Ribble Rivers Trust to counteract these issues. These initiatives include planting woodland to mitigate flood impacts and removing artificial barriers like weirs to facilitate fish passage.

The trust is also collaborating with farmers to reduce nutrient runoff, thereby enhancing river water quality. While acknowledging the long road to recovery, there is hope that these measures will lead to a stabilization and eventual increase in salmon populations within the next five to ten years.