Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 6
6
Accepted
Wild salmon are iconic and important species.
Conclusion
Wild salmon are iconic and important species. It should ring alarm bells that wild salmon are classed as ‘at risk’ or ‘probably at risk’ in almost every river in England they traverse. Protecting rivers where important species such as the North Atlantic salmon are known to be in danger must be a priority for the Environment Agency. Pollution levels in these rivers must be reduced as a matter of urgency. (Paragraph 43) Rivers fit to swim in
Government response summary AI-generated
The government states that anyone can apply for a new bathing water designation and the Government then considers those applications, and that it encourages applications annually and is actively exploring ways to make the application process more accessible.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government · verbatim extract
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. Optimising conditions in freshwater to maximise the production of healthy wild salmon 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.
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