Pink salmon are an invasive species, meaning they are not native and can negatively impact the local ecosystem. They have a high reproductive rate and can outcompete native fish for resources.

Pink salmon have a distinct two-year life cycle, previous reports of Pink Salmon in England and Wales have occurred in odd-numbered years.

Since 2017, Pink Salmon have been recorded from a number of river catchments in England as far south as the River Tamar with one report from the River Dee in Wales. In 2023, there were just two confirmed reports in England, but none in Wales.

Working closely together Environment Agency (EA) and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) are urging anglers to be vigilant and report any sightings of non-native Pink 

A key concern is that invasive pink salmon may carry diseases or novel parasites that threaten the health and wellbeing of our native Atlantic salmon.

Pink salmon are also known to be aggressive towards Atlantic salmon and can cause damage that may affect the longer term survival of Atlantic salmon when in freshwater

Please be vigilant for any early or unusual salmon spawning activity particularly during late July, August and September when pink salmon are most likely to be active.

Any suspected Pink Salmon should also be reported as soon as possible to either the EA or NRW via the hotline numbers or via the Pink salmon reporting app.

• If you are absolutely confident that you have caught a pacific pink salmon, the fish should be humanely despatched.  We will come and pick up the carcass.
• If you are not absolutely confident that you have caught a Pink Salmon, then the fish should be released back alive where it was captured. This is to ensure that no Atlantic salmon are retained in error.
• Remember – it is an offence to take Atlantic salmon in any Welsh waters, and in some English rivers.