Salmon

When rivers get blocked and streams silt up, the salmon's life becomes tougher still. We've been working with landowners on conservation measures to help the salmon. Our teams have been cutting conifers along the riparian zones and planting native broadleaf trees. The broadleaf trees will cast dappled shade which keeps the young salmon cool. We’ve also built silt traps and removed obstacles in the rivers they use.

Where they live

Young salmon live in freshwater rivers and pools until they’re between two and four years old. At this stage they’re called parr. At around 12cm in length the salmon undergo a physiological transformation which allows them to survive at sea. The fish continue to change and develop their distinctive silvery colour and are now known as smolts. In late spring, salmon which have developed into this phase head for the open sea.

They return as adults to spawn, between one and four years later. This is when you're most likely to see them, as they swim upstream to the exact stretch of river where they hatched.

What they eat 

Young fish or fry feed on tiny organisms in the river They then move on to small insects when they’re about one year old, a stage called parr. They need cool temperatures, no sediment and good water flow. Broadleaf trees create dapple shade and help prevent riverbank erosion. While silt traps keep the waters clear for the growing salmon.

Where you can see them

There’s a chance to see them wherever a salmon river runs through a forest. There are viewing places at Rogie Falls near Inverness and the Falls of Shin in Sutherland. Galloway Forest Park has some excellent salmon rivers too.

When you can see them

You might catch sight of fry and parr all year round, but late summer and autumn is the best time to see leaping adult salmon. Early morning or evening are the best times, especially after heavy rain.

What to look out for

You could mistake a young fish or parr for some trout, but you'll know if you see an adult salmon, it's quite magnificent.