The last salmon fishing campaign in the rivers of Asturias has closed with 108 specimens captured, which represents an 18% drop compared to the previous season. According to the Ministry of Rural Environment, these results will be analyzed jointly with the available scientific indicators in order to decide on possible new actions for the conservation of the species.
By river basins, the Narcea was once again the river with the highest number of salmon, with 66 captures until the early closure of the season on June 19, once the established quota was completed. Four more specimens destined for hatchery breeding programs are added to this figure. In the Sella, 23 salmon were counted, two less than in the previous year, while in the Cares-Deva, 14 were registered, double that of 2025. In the Esva, five specimens were caught and in the Eo, no captures were made.
With the campaign now concluded, the ministry will now carry out the count of underwater breeder censuses, a necessary task to complete the assessment of the current state of salmon populations.
The situation of the Atlantic salmon continues to show a downward trend throughout the Atlantic arc. Although different hypotheses are being considered, scientific studies mainly point to marine-origin factors as the fundamental cause of this decline.
The Government of Asturias has launched various protection initiatives in recent years, including captive breeding and restocking programs, the establishment of refuges for breeders, the expansion of areas closed to fishing, and the reduction of fishing effort.
In the 2026 campaign, a limit of one salmon with death per fisherman and season was established, in addition to allowing another specimen in catch-and-release mode, along with new time limitations and the early closure of the upper reaches of the salmon rivers.