A new £230,000 conservation fund has been launched to support the restoration of Scotland’s rivers and help reverse the decline in wild salmon and sea trout numbers. Salmon Scotland’s wild fisheries fund, now open for 2026 applications, is part of a continuing five-year, £1.5 million commitment from the salmon farming sector to improve conditions for these iconic fish and their habitats.
The fund is available to river catchment organisations across Scotland, with applications closing on 31 March. Priority will be given to projects that overlap with both farmed and wild salmon interests. Supported initiatives will focus on strengthening river habitats, repairing existing damage, protecting spawning grounds, and improving survival rates among juvenile fish.
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Wild salmon and sea trout populations in the UK have experienced dramatic drops in recent years, with estimates suggesting marine survival rates are as low as one to five per cent. Factors behind this decline include habitat loss, increased river and sea temperatures, invasive species, predation, and obstacles to fish passage. The Scottish Government’s most recent assessment indicates that only 17% of salmon stocks are in good conservation status, underscoring the urgent need for intervention.
Since its inception in 2021, the wild fisheries fund has invested approximately £705,000 in restoration projects such as riverbank stabilisation in Argyll, dam repairs in the Western Isles, genetic conservation in Lochaber and Loch Fyne, and habitat work in Ayrshire. Recent beneficiaries highlight the fund’s crucial role in supporting innovative approaches, including gene bank projects to enhance stock resilience and tree planting to stabilise riverbanks.
Fund coordinator Jon Gibb and Salmon Scotland’s chief executive Tavish Scott have emphasised the value of continued collaboration between fish farmers, wild fisheries interests, and local communities. By restoring habitats and sharing expertise, Scotland aims to secure a more sustainable future for wild salmon – a species deeply tied to the nation’s natural heritage and rural economy.
