New research from the Environment Agency, Cefas and Natural Resources Wales, published on 16 September 2026, confirmed that salmon stocks in England are at their lowest level since records began. The Atlantic Salmon Stock Assessment for 2025 found that 95% of principal salmon rivers were below the level needed to sustain their populations, up from 88% in the previous year's assessment and the highest share recorded to date. Where 15 to 20 young salmon out of every 100 migrating to sea once returned as adults, now only one or two do.

The report says the problem is not unique to England and is observable across the North Atlantic, with much of the cause lying at sea and beyond the control of any single country. In rivers, the assessment attributes the decline to water quantity, water quality and damaged habitat. The Environment Agency said it has set out commitments, as part of reporting to the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation, to tackle all three issues by 2032, including restoring 2,282 hectares of peatland, improving 105 barriers, restoring habitat at 252 sites and planting trees along 648 hectares of riverbank.

Chief Executive Philip Duffy called the figures stark and said recovery requires collective action. The agency said salmon are returning to the River Trent and River Ouse after efforts to improve water quality and remove migration barriers, and that it planned to publish the next round of River Basin Management Plans later in the year.