Recommendation 3

HM Government Accepted

The Government agrees with the need for urgency in taking action to protect and recover endangered species. With regards to threatened salmon populations, we have been working to build the evidence base regarding the complex impacts on this species to ensure policy responses are based on the best science. The evidence from the 25 Year Plan B7 Indicator received by the committee showed that 39 of the 42 salmon rivers in England were ‘at risk’ or ‘probably at risk’. It is incorrect, however, to say that river water quality is singularly the reason for the decline in salmon stocks. These populations are affected by marine pollution, over- fishing and more recently, climate change. Even a small rise in river temperature affects the survival of salmon smolts. To conserve and restore England’s salmon populations, Defra has published the England and Wales Salmon Implementation Plan 2019–24 for NASCO (North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation) which sets out the key priorities for action. smolts and survival of returning adult salmon is centre stage. To achieve this, there are five priorities as set out in the Environment Agency’s Salmon 5-Point Approach: (1) Improve marine survival (2) Further reduce exploitation by nets and rods (3) Remove barriers to migration and enhance habitat (4) Safeguard sufficient flows (5) Maximise spawning success by improving water quality The Environment Agency are also actively working with partner organisations to further improve the evidence base relating to migratory salmonid populations within inshore coastal waters.