Catch numbers for wild Scottish salmon ‘lowest ever’, official figures show

The figures were published by Scotland’s Chief Statistician and cover all of Scotland. They also show that the catch for sea trout was the second lowest ever recorded.

The reported rod catch of salmon for last year, at 28,020, stands at 68% of the previous five-year average. Catches have decreased from a high of 111,405 in 2010 and the 2025 reports are consistent with a general pattern of decline in numbers of wild salmon returning to Scotland, the government said.

The reported figure for “rod days effort” (representing the total number of days fished by rod licence holders) for salmon for 2025 was (192,859) decreased by 5% when compared to 2024 (203,199).

In 2025, release rates of salmon captured by rod were the highest on record. Of spring salmon captured by rod, 99% were released; 98% of all rod-caught salmon were released.

The net and coble fishery reported the lowest retained catch, and the fixed engine fishery the sixth lowest since records began.

Fish reported as being of farmed origin represented 1.6% of the total catch.

Total reported rod catch of sea trout, at 13,025, is the lowest since records began. Sea trout catches have fluctuated around a general trend of decline since the 1960s.

In 2025, release rates of sea trout were 92%. This is the second highest percentage since records began.

The net and coble fishery reported the third lowest retained catch, and the fixed engine fishery the fifth lowest, since records began.

Falling wild salmon numbers continue to fuel a fierce debate about reasons for the decline. Prior to the dissolution of the Scottish Parliament for the 7 May election, MSPs in the Rural Affairs and Islands committee called for a wide-ranging inquiry into the issue.