Save Our Salmon: A Call to Action for the River Itchen’s Endangered Atlantic Salmon

The River Itchen is home to one of the UK’s most remarkable yet threatened species – the Atlantic salmon. These fish, famed for their epic migrations from freshwater to the open ocean and back, have been a vital part of the river’s ecosystem for millennia. However, the future of the Itchen’s salmon is now in jeopardy.

In 2023, WildFish supporters funded the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species reassessment of population numbers. As a result, the UK population of Atlantic salmon is now classified as ‘Endangered,’ bringing an alarming reality into focus. Without urgent action, these incredible fish could be lost forever. In 2022, only 133 salmon returned to the River Itchen to spawn – the lowest number on record since 1990. This stark decline is a wake-up call for everyone who values our chalk streams and the unique wildlife they support.

The Itchen Salmon Delivery Plan (ISDP)

To combat this crisis, the Itchen Salmon Delivery Plan (ISDP) has been launched – a collaborative initiative uniting conservation groups, fisheries experts, and environmental organisations in a concerted effort to save this endangered population. Through habitat restoration, improved fish passage, water quality initiatives, water resources management, and community engagement, the ISDP is taking a holistic approach to tackling the challenges salmon face.

Why It Matters

The River Itchen is not just another river. It is one of only six chalk streams in England that still supports wild Atlantic salmon. Chalk streams are globally rare, often referred to as the rainforests or coral reefs of the UK due to their ecological significance. A healthy Itchen doesn’t just mean survival for salmon; it means a thriving river that benefits all wildlife and local communities.

The River Itchen in Hampshire is a rare and beautiful chalk stream that flows for approximately 28 miles from mid-Hampshire to Southampton. The river is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and its habitat should be capable of supporting a range of protected species including the Atlantic salmon.

However, pollution, water abstraction, habitat loss, and in-stream barriers are making it harder for salmon to complete their life cycle, all of which are exacerbated by climate change. If we lose them, an irreplaceable part of our natural heritage will be lost forever.

Dr Janina Gray, Deputy CEO at WildFish, said: “Chalk streams like the Itchen are rarer habitats than coral reefs or rainforests. They are renowned for their pure, clean, and consistent flows. When in good health, these rivers provide vital habitats for many species, including the iconic Atlantic salmon – a keystone species crucial to the ecosystems in which they thrive.

Atlantic salmon in the River Itchen are at crisis point with numbers at dangerously low levels.

 

“The Itchen Salmon Delivery Plan group has come together to help inject urgency into our fight to save the Itchen salmon. We already know many of the pressures salmon face in the river from declining water quality and quantity to in-stream barriers, and the impacts of climate change.

We also know what needs to be done. Government must enforce environmental regulations that protect rivers like the Itchen and we need local action to restore the habitat and protect its Atlantic salmon populations. The time for talking is over. We need urgent action, before it’s too late”.

How You Can Help

The ISDP campaign, ‘Save Our Salmon,’ aims to raise awareness and empower local communities to take action. Everyone has a role to play in protecting these iconic fish:

• Support conservation efforts – Follow the work of ISDP partner organisations including our work at WildFish and take part in river restoration projects.
• Reduce water usage – Every drop counts. Using less water at home leaves more in the river for wildlife.
• Be mindful of pollution – Only flush the three P’s (pee, poo, and paper) down the toilet to help reduce sewage spills.

The future of the Itchen’s Atlantic salmon is in our hands. By working together, we can ensure that these extraordinary fish continue to swim in our rivers for generations to come.

Help us protect wild fish and their waters. Discover how SmartRivers is empowering communities to restore and protect wild fish populations. This volunteer-led project gives people the tools and knowledge to make a real difference in their local rivers.