Project Dates: 01.08.2024 to 30.10.2025

Enabling Westcountry Rivers Trust and Tidelines to deliver a holistic project enhancing the River Exe for salmon passage whilst engaging the local community with the issues faced by our local salmon populations.

Atlantic salmon has declined by 70% nationally in the past 25 years. The increase in ‘boom and bust’ river flows in recent decades has exacerbated flooding and drought, and presents multiple challenges for water quality and biodiversity.

Our grant aims to halt the decline of freshwater fish populations on the River Exe, particularly the Atlantic salmon, by improving fish passage connectivity and restoring life-stage habitat to maximise the opportunities for their natural recovery.

It will also deliver the popular Salmon Run event on 29th September 2024, to connect local people with the restoration work, while incorporating education, health, and wellbeing – bringing the plight of Atlantic salmon above the water’s surface to promote this keystone species and its importance for the culture and ecology of the Exe.

The project deliverables include:

• 2km river and fish habitat improvements – selective sunlight and bankside trees to promote primary productivity, habitat heterogeneity, and river protection to boost fish egg and juvenile survival;
• Fish survey of Exe catchment;
• Fry Index fish survey conducted to inform on success of previous habitat improvements and signpost future areas of interest;
• Salmon Run 2024 (5km fun run, 10km relay, 80km ultramarathon);
• Salmon Run toolkit – legacy guide for other river groups to increase awareness of their own freshwater habitats;
• Salmon Run podcast to share the challenges Salmon face, and wider habitat issues.

 

Image credits: Westcountry Rivers Trust and Tidelines.

IMPACT SUMMARY JULY 2025

Project Activities:

• The Exe Salmon Run was due to take place on 29/09/2024 but was unfortunately postponed as a
  full event due to the weather forecast.
• The Salmon Run consists of three parts: a 5km Fun Run (or walk) for all the family and abilities, a 50-mile (80km) team relay event, and a sea-to-source 50 mile (80km) ultra-marathon for those wishing to challenge themselves. In light of the high winds forest, the holistic salmon run event was postponed and only the ultra-marathon, running at a shorter distance of 40 miles (64km).
• The whole event, supported by the Devon Environment Foundation, will take place in September 2025.
• A Salmon Run Podcast, reaching out to a wider audience in perpetuity, has been published by
  Artwork Exeter on River Radio, with the project team taking to the banks of the River Exe to chat
  about the river, it’s challenges, and all things ‘salmon’ whilst watching the salmon leap beneath
  Exeter.

 

Project Impact:

• To increase the legacy of the event this year’s event is hosting a symposium of arts and conservation at the race start in Exmouth. This event will celebrate Atlantic salmon and the River Exe and aim to increase engagement and awareness of the plight of the Atlantic salmon.
• During the project duration, a Salmon Run guide pack is being produced. The aim of the guide pack is to publish the formula of the Salmon Run event to be emulated elsewhere to help raise awareness of the need for river conservation and the challenges faced by migratory fish.
• The overall impact of the project is to incorporate community and increase engagement, to overcome adversity and challenges with restoring the natural world.