For Atlantic salmon in particular, the exploitation of stocks by humans remains a controversial issue. In the past, it has taken its toll on their overall numbers, occurring throughout the adult stages of their life cycle.
Even juvenile salmon haven’t always been spared. A hundred years ago netting smolts as they migrated out to sea was not uncommon.
Other fish are also taken, such as brown trout and coarse species but in nowhere near the same numbers or at levels that have threatened their survival.
Read more about human exploitation of salmon and what the Foundation has done to encourage their conservation.