We are pleased to share with you Saving the Irish Salmon – Policy Statement 2025, Salmon Watch Ireland’s updated and comprehensive plan to safeguard one of our nation’s most iconic species.

This revised policy builds on our original 2019 proposals and reflects the urgent challenges now facing wild Atlantic salmon. Numbers have fallen by approximately 90% since the 1970s, and without decisive action, salmon could become a rare sight in Irish rivers within our lifetime.

The document outlines:

• The current crisis in salmon stocks, its causes, and the growing threats from climate change, habitat loss, pollution, overfishing, aquaculture impacts, by-catch and barriers to migration.
• A science-based framework for reversing the decline, focusing on habitat restoration, barrier removal, predator management, and stricter regulation of exploitation and aquaculture.
• Policy recommendations for government, agencies, communities, and international partners, including reforms to the Salmon Conservation Fund and the creation of an independent Aquaculture Authority.

This is not just a policy document – it is a call to action. Protecting salmon will require leadership, cross-sector collaboration, and strong public support. We invite you to read the full statement, join the conversation, and help us in building the momentum for change.

You can access the full policy document in the attached.

While the policy document is comprehensive, we anticipate that the detailed management of Ireland’s salmon resource will need to evolve in response to emerging challenges, ensuring the strategy remains effective and delivers lasting results.  

Thank you for your continued commitment to Ireland’s environment and biodiversity. Together, we can ensure that future generations inherit healthy rivers and thriving salmon runs