Project to save our salmon in Hampshire chalkstream 

The Itchen Salmon Delivery Plan (IDSP) has been launched in Hampshire to combat the crisis facing Atlantic salmon.

The Itchen that flows through the county is one of only six chalkstreams in the UK that still support Atlantic salmon, but in 2024 only 187 salmon returned to the river. This is a mere 37% of the conservation limit (CL) which represents the number needed to keep the population stable.

The ISDP is a collaborative initiative uniting conservation groups, fisheries experts and environmental organisations. Through habitat restoration, improved fish passage, water quality initiatives, water resources management and community engagement, the ISDP aims to tackle the challenges the salmon faces.

Dave Rumble, CEO of Wessex Rivers Trust, said: “The alarming decline of Atlantic salmon in the river Itchen has been a growing concern for Wessex Rivers Trust and our supporters for many years.

“These fish are an indicator species, and their loss would tell a dire story about the health of our rivers. The Itchen Salmon Delivery Plan is a crucial step forward, allowing different organisations to play to their strengths in tackling the many pressures our salmon face. By working together, we can ramp up meaningful action to protect and restore this iconic species.”