Atlantic salmon are breeding again in the River Don — for the first time in more than two centuries.
The Don Catchment Rivers Trust (DCRT) has confirmed the discovery of a wild-born Atlantic salmon in the river, the first evidence of successful spawning since salmon were wiped out by pollution and manmade barriers in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The young fish, known as a parr, was found during an electrofishing survey in Sheffield this month by DCRT staff and volunteers — marking one of the most significant milestones for the river’s recovery in living memory.
For over 25 years, fish passes have been installed across the Don to reconnect the river and allow salmon to return. Although adult salmon have been spotted making their way upstream in recent years, no one knew for sure if they were managing to spawn. Now we do.
I thought salmon return to their birthplace to lay eggs, which salmon lived 200 years?
Most do return to the river in which they hatched but, as I understand it, between 5 - 20% disperse to other rivers, which seems to be what is happening here.
Without some dispersal salmon would never have spread from the single river in which they originally evolved.
Oh that makes sense