Please find attached Salmon Watch Ireland Newsletter No. 48, examining the concerning decline in Atlantic salmon catches and returns across Europe.

The latest figures reveal substantial reductions in reported salmon catches between 2020 and 2025, including 51% in Ireland, 38% in Scotland, 46% in Norway and 65% in England and Wales. Monitoring in France and reported catches in northern Spain provide further evidence of the challenges facing Atlantic salmon.

We also highlight research from Ireland's River Erriff, where declining marine survival and reduced adult salmon returns raise serious questions about the pressures salmon face after leaving our rivers.

While catch statistics do not directly measure salmon abundance, the geographical extent of these declines reinforces the need for stronger conservation, protection of freshwater habitats and coordinated international research into marine survival.

We must protect the salmon that remain and ensure conservation takes priority until sustained recovery is demonstrated.

Newsletter Number 48 - Catches decline across Europe and Nordic Countries (3)