International Wild Salmon Day is an opportunity to reflect on the scale of the challenge facing wild Atlantic salmon and the Fishmongers’ Company’s long-standing commitment to their conservation. Salmon stocks across the UK and the wider North Atlantic are in sharp decline, reinforcing the urgency of coordinated, practical action.
At the heart of the Company’s freshwater work is its support for the Missing Salmon Alliance (MSA). Founded and developed by the Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust, the Alliance brings together the UK’s leading salmon organisations to drive collaboration on research, management, funding and advocacy. The Company continues to play a central role as convenor, partnership builder and funder, building on the momentum of the Wild Salmon Connections conference held at Fishmongers’ Hall in 2025, which has catalysed new international partnerships and opportunities for collective action.
Alongside this, the Company is investing in catchment-scale habitat restoration through its support for Rivers Trust-led initiatives. This work focuses on restoring freshwater ecosystems across entire river catchments, improving water quality, biodiversity and resilience to climate change. By strengthening the Rivers Trust network, particularly in Scotland, and supporting collaboration between catchment organisations, the Company is helping to build the capacity needed to deliver long-term improvements for salmon and wider river health.
A key element of this approach is the development of pathfinder programmes, which demonstrate practical, scalable models for restoration. These projects provide real-world examples of how coordinated habitat recovery and partnership working can deliver ecological benefits at scale, while helping to unlock further funding and wider adoption.
Complementing this is the Farmer Cluster programme, which addresses one of the most significant pressures on freshwater systems: agriculture. By working directly with farmers at catchment scale, the programme encourages improved land management practices, helping to enhance water quality, restore habitats and reduce environmental impacts across river systems.
Together, these initiatives reflect an integrated strategy, combining science, habitat restoration, policy engagement and partnership working, to secure a sustainable future for wild salmon and the ecosystems on which they depend.
© The Fishmongers’ Company 2026
