Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government how DEFRA, Natural England and the Environment Agency jointly assess the balance in limiting population densities between (1) non-at-risk avian predators, and (2) Atlantic salmon, on the principal salmon rivers.

This is a devolved matter and the information provided relates to England only.

Salmon populations in England’s rivers are generally declining, with many detrimental factors suppressing recovery. Defra is a member of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation, working with international counterparts to conserve and restore Atlantic salmon, including measures to mitigate avian predation.

All wild birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, including avian predators, regardless of their population or conservation status.

The Government does not aim to limit or reduce the population of any native wild bird. If evidence shows that species such as cormorant, heron or goosander are having a serious impact on fisheries or salmon, a licence can be issued.

Natural England (NE) sets evidence-based limits on the number of cormorants licensed to be killed each year to prevent irreversibly affecting their conservation status. Scarecer breeding species, including goosander, are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Licences issued by NE target specific locations when migrating salmon are most vulnerable, like during the smolt run, to improve the effect of protecting fisheries.

The Environment Agency funds two fisheries management advisors within the Angling Trust who provide bespoke advice to fisheries seeking predator control licences.