The Government of Cantabria, presided over by the PP, has acknowledged that the current state of salmon in the region's rivers is "quite bad" and keeps open the possibility of establishing a complete ban. However, it will wait "until the end of the season" to evaluate the available data with "due rigor" before making a final decision.
The regional Executive has reiterated that it is "more in favor of restricting than banning," but has also made it clear that, if the records show that the situation is "unsustainable," even to guarantee "minimal" sport fishing, a total closure will not be ruled out. "It would be sad, but obviously our hand would not tremble."
These statements were made this Monday by the Minister of Fisheries, María Jesús Susinos, and the Director General of Biodiversity, Ángel Serdio, when asked by journalists about the possibility of a salmon ban in the riverbeds of Cantabria.
Both officials have stressed that no measure will be adopted until the data corresponding to the current campaign, which began on May 1st – a month later than usual – and will conclude on June 30th, is reviewed in detail.
In this season, it was necessary to wait almost a month from the opening for the 'campanu' to be caught, that is, the first salmon of the year in Cantabria. The fish was caught on Saturday, May 30th, in the Nansa River and was caught by an angler from Asturias.
"We know that lately there are difficulties; we see that there are no salmon in the rivers, but we have always, instead of banning, been in favor of restricting as we have been doing," said the minister when questioned about the possible total prohibition of salmon fishing.
As she explained, the decision will be made once the season is over and at a meeting where "all parties involved" will sit down, including specialized technicians.
NO OFFICIAL NEWS ON THE REPORT REQUESTED BY MITECO
For his part, Serdio explained that the Cantabrian government has not received formal communication about the scientific report that, "following requests from some environmental groups," the Ministry for Ecological Transition has commissioned the Scientific Committee that advises the Committee on Fauna and Flora, in order to determine whether salmon should be considered an endangered species in Spain.
He pointed out that he has only been aware of this assignment through the media, "as unfortunately has been the custom" in relations "in recent times" with the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge.
From the regional Executive, they have underlined that "if the data support" that salmon should be included in the LESPRE or another protection figure, "then obviously we will have no choice and we will support it", although they have insisted that "we will wait for that report".
Serdio specified that, although the number of catches is a key indicator for monitoring the evolution of the species, "they are not the only" parameter that, in his opinion, should be valued. According to the data provided, in 2024, 48 salmon were caught in the rivers of Cantabria, a figure that was reduced to eight in 2025.
"There have been years when, although fishing has been scarce, more salmon have been seen in the upstream migration, and vice versa, years of really important fishing and a smaller situation in the upstream migration. In any case, the situation, as everyone knows, is not good and, in fact, it is quite bad," said Serdio, who admitted that, in the case of salmon, "it will be difficult to refute a scientific report that indicates otherwise."
The Director General added that he has a "hunch" that the document will be "quite clear" regarding the state of salmon in Spain as a whole.