On Wild Salmon Day, it is important to recognise the practical, science-led work undertaken by the Tweed Foundation that directly supports the conservation of wild Atlantic Salmon throughout the Tweed District.

The Foundation's work is focused on understanding the factors that limit salmon survival and implementing measures that improve the river's capacity to support healthy, self-sustaining salmon populations.

Key areas of work include:

Fish Population Monitoring

The Foundation operates one of the most comprehensive salmon monitoring programmes in the UK. Through electrofishing surveys, smolt trapping, fish counters, redd counts, and population assessments, scientists monitor salmon abundance, spawning success, juvenile recruitment, and survival trends across the catchment. These long-term datasets are fundamental to understanding changes in salmon populations and informing management decisions.

Smolt Production and Migration Studies

Monitoring the number and condition of smolts leaving the Tweed for the sea provides critical information about freshwater survival and the productivity of different parts of the catchment. Understanding how many young salmon successfully migrate to sea is essential for assessing the health of the population.

Water Temperature Research

As climate change increases the frequency of warm-water events, the Foundation has expanded its temperature monitoring network throughout the catchment. This work identifies thermal stress risks, locates cold-water refuges used by salmon during hot weather, and helps target habitat improvements that can reduce the impacts of rising temperatures.

Habitat Restoration and Riparian Planting

The Foundation works with landowners and partners to restore degraded river habitats. This includes planting native riverside trees to provide shade, stabilise banks, reduce sediment inputs, and directly help maintain cooler water temperatures. Such measures improve conditions for salmon eggs, juveniles, and adult fish.

Barrier Assessment and Fish Passage Improvements

Ensuring salmon can reach spawning and nursery habitats is vital. The Foundation surveys barriers to migration and supports projects that improve fish passage, allowing salmon to access areas of the catchment that may otherwise be unavailable.

Water Quality and Catchment Science

The health of salmon populations depends on healthy rivers. The Foundation investigates issues such as nutrient enrichment, sedimentation, diffuse pollution, and algal growth, helping identify pressures that can affect salmon habitat quality and juvenile survival.

Research into Marine Survival and Population Dynamics

While many pressures on salmon occur at sea, understanding how freshwater conditions influence marine survival remains a key area of scientific investigation. The Foundation's long-term research contributes to national and international understanding of the challenges facing Atlantic salmon.

Evidence-Based Fisheries Management

The scientific information gathered by the Foundation supports management decisions throughout the Tweed District, helping ensure that conservation measures are based on robust evidence and the best available science.

Wild salmon face increasing pressures from climate change, habitat degradation, declining marine survival, barriers to migration, and deteriorating water quality. The work of the Tweed Foundation provides the scientific knowledge and practical conservation action needed to address these challenges.

On Wild Salmon Day, we recognise the dedication of the Foundation's staff, trustees, volunteers, researchers, and partner organisations whose work helps protect one of the most important wild salmon populations in the British Isles and safeguards the future of salmon in the River Tweed for generations to come.

Tweed Foundation