(Image: PA)
YOUNG salmon are showing signs of recovery in the Ribble catchment after years of decline.
Early survey results from the Ribble Rivers Trust point to a possible rebound for Atlantic salmon, with record catches of juvenile fish.
These findings follow several years of poor returns and reflect long-term river restoration efforts.
Adam Wheeler, fisheries officer at Ribble Rivers Trust, said: "This year’s surveys give us real hope for the future.
"It’s a cracking bit of news and a reminder that, when rivers are given the help they need to recover, fish quickly respond."
Trust staff recorded more than 100 young salmon in just a few minutes at one site, while another location saw its first salmon in over a decade.
Atlantic salmon were once common in the Ribble and its tributaries, but populations have fallen sharply due to pollution, migration barriers, habitat loss, and other pressures.
Jack Spees, CEO at Ribble Rivers Trust, said: "For 25 years, Ribble Rivers Trust has worked to improve our rivers for fish and other freshwater life.
"While there is still a huge amount of work to do, these early results suggest that targeted, science-led river restoration is paying off."
The trust’s efforts have included removing barriers to fish migration, restoring floodplains, creating riverside woodlands, and improving spawning habitats.
Recent work at Langden Brook introduced new gravels to support salmon and trout spawning.
Atlantic salmon are considered an indicator species, meaning their recovery signals broader improvements in river health.
Charlotte Ireland Pope, fundraising and publicity officer at Ribble Rivers Trust, said: "Projects like the gravel restoration work at Langden Brook show that practical, on-the-ground conservation can achieve real results.
"When combined with our education work in schools and our engagement with communities across the catchment, we're helping to create rivers that are healthy enough to support abundant wildlife while inspiring people to care about these special places as much as we do."
Survey work will continue until late September, ahead of the adult salmon’s autumn migration.
Full results will be published early next year, and if the current trends continue, 2026 could mark a turning point for Atlantic salmon in the Ribble.