The 2024 salmon and sea trout fishery statistics by the Scottish Government show a modest improvement following a difficult year. Rod-caught wild salmon rose to 46,978 — a 42% increase on 2023 and slightly above the five-year average. While the uplift is welcome, it comes after one of the lowest years on record and must be viewed in context.
Despite the increase, salmon numbers remain well below those seen in decades past. The long-term decline is still evident, and the pressures on these fish — both in freshwater and at sea — continue to shape their fragile outlook.
Sea trout catches in 2024 reached 13,876 — slightly under the five-year average. However, an 11% rise in finnock (juvenile sea trout) offers a small glimmer of hope. Overall angling effort declined slightly, with 201,498 rod days recorded, yet interest and passion for Scotland’s rivers remain strong.
Catch and release continues to define the approach of most anglers, with 98% of salmon released. For spring multi sea-winter salmon — those that have spent more than one winter at sea — the release rate reached 99%.
This year has also brought long spells of dry, hot weather. With river levels low in many areas, concerns remain about how these conditions will affect fish survival, movement, and spawning later in the year.
The 2024 figures offer a degree of optimism, but also serve as a reminder that the recovery of salmon and sea trout in Scotland remains uncertain — and far from complete.
Read the full report HERE
