First young salmon found in three rivers since 2015

30 December 2025

Richard SteadNorth West

News image — Young salmon have been found in the River Mersey catchment area for the first time since 2015

Environment Agency Photograph of a young salmon which was found in the River Goyt in Stockport. The fish is shown beside a ruler to indicate its size. — Young salmon have been found in the River Mersey catchment area for the first time since 2015

Young Atlantic salmon have been spotted in three rivers in the north-west of England for the first time in 10 years.

The species was declared critically endangered in Britain in 2023 but the recent discoveries in the Mersey, Bollin and Goyt mean salmon have been migrating from the Arctic Circle to successfully spawn.

An Environment Agency (EA) spokesperson said they were "very excited to find the fish successfully spawning, considering the species' critically endangered status".

Atlantic salmon feed for two or three years around the Arctic Circle before returning to their rivers of origin to spawn in freshwater gravel beds.

Photograph of the River Goyt at Woodbank Park in Stockport. The image shows the riverbank and trees next to the swollen water. — The discovery of Atlantic salmon means the fish have been spawning in gravel beds on the River Goyt in Stockport

Pollution led to Atlantic salmon vanishing from many rivers during the Industrial Revolution.

While the species made a recovery, there has been a 30-50% decline in British populations since 2006.

As a result, Atlantic salmon were declared critically endangered in Britain two years ago.

Mark Sewell, a wastewater catchment manager at United Utilities, said: "Significant stretches of river were biologically dead in the 1980s but today they support thriving ecosystems and are home to a number of pollution-intolerant fish species.

"Those species are recovering thanks to a significant environmental turnaround."

Photograph of angler Mike Duddy. He is pictured in front of the River Irwell in the Agecroft area of Salford. — Mike Duddy, from the Salford Friendly Anglers Society, said he would like to see salmon in the River Irwell

Salmon are able to swim up the River Mersey to spawn in the gravel beds on the Bollin and the Goyt, but their path is blocked by weirs on the River Tame.

The fish are also unable to migrate up the River Irwell due to the Mode Wheel Locks at Salford Quays, close to the BBC's headquarters at MediaCity UK.

Mike Duddy, from the Salford Friendly Anglers Society, said: "It would be very difficult to build a fish pass due to cost and physical space constraints."

"If we wanted to do something for our future generations, now is the time to build a fish pass because there are huge numbers of people that would love to see salmon returning to the Roch and Irk, as well as the rivers in Bolton."

Key pressures faced by Atlantic salmon include climate change, poor water quality, river blockages such as dams, and invasive non-native species.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: "We will be undertaking a new salmon distribution study in early 2026, using eDNA sampling, to build an even better picture of the spawning range and assess the extent of recovery."