World

Should we all stop eating salmon? Why it’s suddenly become endangered

Published

1 year ago

October 19, 2024

Should we all stop eating salmon? Why it’s suddenly become endangered

Atlantic salmon populations in England and Wales have plummeted to unprecedented lows, according to the Atlantic Salmon Stock Assessment for 2024, a report published this month by the United Kingdom Environment Agency and Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science.

According to the report by the two government agencies, a massive 90 percent of wild river salmon in England are classified as either “at risk” or “probably at risk”.

This latest classification is due to salmon stocks declining to levels that are insufficient for a self-sustaining salmon population.

“Forty years ago, an estimated 1.4 million salmon returned to UK rivers each year. We are now at barely a third of that – a new low and evidence of the wider, growing biodiversity crisis,” Alan Lovell, chairman of the Environment Agency, said when the report was released.

At the end of last year, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), an international organisation dedicated to nature conservation, changed the status of Atlantic salmon from “least concern” to “endangered” in Great Britain on its Red List of Threatened Species.

“There are rivers that used to have in the UK maybe 20,000 to 30,000 Atlantic salmon running them, and they’re now down to 1,000 to 2,000, and there are some rivers with literally a few hundred left,” Dylan Roberts, head of fisheries at the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust in the UK, told Al Jazeera.

“We’re looking at about an 80 percent decline over the last 40 years in wild Atlantic salmon.”

An Atlantic salmon jumps out of the water at the Shrewsbury Weir on the River Severn in Shropshire, England, as it migrates upstream to spawn [Shutterstock]

Why is Atlantic salmon endangered?

In December, Atlantic salmon was classified as endangered due to a 30 to 50 percent decline in British populations since 2006 and a 50 to 80 percent projected decline from 2010 to 2025, according to the IUCN.

The IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species has nine categories based on risk of extinction. These classifications help the wider scientific community assess and monitor the conservation status of different species.

They are the following:

Not evaluated: species that have not yet been assessed against the IUCN criteria
Data deficient: species for which there is insufficient information to make a direct or indirect assessment of their risk of extinction
Least concern: species that are widespread and abundant and do not qualify for any higher risk category
Near threatened: species that do not currently qualify as threatened but are close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future
Vulnerable: species facing a high risk of extinction in the wild
Endangered: species at very high risk of extinction in the wild
Critically endangered: species that face an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild and meet criteria indicating an imminent threat to their survival
Extinct in the wild: species that survive only in captivity or outside their natural range and are presumed extinct in their native habitat after exhaustive surveys
Extinct: species for which there is no reasonable doubt that the last individual has died, confirmed by extensive surveys without sightings

The IUCN’s Red List includes more than 45,300 species that are threatened with extinction, which includes any species in the classifications from vulnerable to extinct in the wild.

According to Roberts, species do not automatically make the IUCN’s Red List just because of low numbers. What gets a species on the list is how sharp the slope of decline is.

“The slope on salmon is endangered. Hence they went on the red list. You’re looking at quite dramatic declines,” he said.

Why are salmon faring so badly in UK rivers?

Agricultural practices

Salmon habitats globally face multiple threats, including agricultural pollution, increased sedimentation on riverbeds, chemical run-off from industrial activities, wastewater discharge and even disruption of rivers due to new road infrastructure.

Additionally, structural barriers built in rivers that impede migration routes, water scarcity due to excessive use and rising ocean temperatures caused by climate change further endanger salmon ecosystems.

Bycatch

European and British salmon travel along a migration route through rivers and streams known as the “smolt superhighway” as they head north to feed into the North Atlantic.

Peak migration time when many of these young fish are heading through this superhighway is around May and June. At this time, young salmon often get caught by large trawlers entering in the same zone in the sea to catch other fish such as mackerel or herring.

This directly reduces the number of fish that can grow to adulthood and return to their natal rivers to spawn.

Bycatch refers to catching fish that are not the main target for trawlers. “Bycatch would be the accidental capture of things like seals, seabirds, dolphins, whales, sharks, rays, skates and [are] protected,” Roberts said. “All these species are recorded. The problem is that salmon just aren’t recorded. And other protected fish as well, such as sea trout, which go to sea.”

According to Roberts, a solution to this problem is to collect better data on how salmon are moving through the rivers and oceans to get a better sense of the impact on the population.

Maize production

The environmental impact of maize production in the UK has proven to be another factor that has adversely impacted rivers and streams vital to salmon. The growth in the use of maize in biofuels and cattle fodder has exacerbated the problem.

“The habitat has been destroyed by intensive agriculture and all the algae and the sediment run-off. So you get this filamentous algae growing on the riverbed, and the riverbed just gets smothered with it,” Roberts said.

The overproduction of algae is detrimental to insects and invertebrates that live in the river and on which salmon are dependent as a food source.

Can salmon farming make up for these losses?

Not really and, in some cases, it may be making the situation for salmon stocks worse.

According to some estimates, roughly 70 percent of the world’s salmon is produced through salmon farming and not caught in freshwater streams.

Salmon farming in the UK generates 1.5 billion pounds ($1.95bn) a year in revenues.

Some experts argue that vast numbers of salmon raised in cramped conditions in aquaculture facilities pose significant challenges and health risks. These practices not only impact the welfare of the salmon but also carry implications for human health and environmental sustainability.

Intensive salmon farming coupled with cramped conditions in farming sea cages can result in the salmon being more susceptible to catching diseases.

“You end up with disease problems – viruses, biological sea lice, sea lice problems – then all the waste that goes into these lochs because they’re in sheltered areas. They don’t get a full flushing from the tides, and over time, they build up,” Roberts explained.

“And what they’re finding now in these lochs is that they’re getting eutrophication [a build-up of algae]. So the locks are turning green, and that’s killing the fish in the cages,” he added.

Eutrophication is often caused by agricultural practices and can cause salmon to experience hypoxia, a depletion of oxygen levels. This can happen to both wild salmon and farmed salmon.

Salmon sometimes escape from the aquaculture farms through nets damaged by severe weather, just being worn down or via poorly secured drains.

Once these escapees from the “fish asylum” are in freshwater rivers and streams, they can interbreed with wild salmon, disrupting their natural development and passing on diseases.

“If you upset the genetic gene pool, that’s a big problem,” Roberts said.

salmon farming — A salmon farm in Loch Fyne in Scotland that uses round fish ‘cages’ [Shutterstock]

According to a 2023 annual fish health report from the Norwegian Veterinary Institute, roughly 17 percent of the country’s farmed salmon died due to infectious diseases. Norway is the top producer of salmon, contributing roughly 50 percent of global production.

Diseases can range from winter sores to heart skeletal muscle inflammation. Although there are treatments for some of these diseases, the treatments themselves can weaken fish, making them even more susceptible to other infectious diseases.

“Infectious diseases are an extensive problem both for the fish’s welfare and survival in the sea,” said Edgar Brun, department director at the Veterinary Institute.

However, industry experts say finding the right preventive measures to reduce disease in fish remains challenging. Moreover, the overuse of vaccines can increase antibiotic resistance, making certain pathogens more entrenched in the salmon population.

Is salmon endangered in other parts of the world as well?

In Ireland and Iceland, overfishing and habitat destruction have led to significant declines in the salmon population.

According to Inland Fisheries Ireland, an organisation responsible for protecting inland fisheries and sea angling resources, wild salmon numbers returning to Ireland dropped from 1.76 million in 1975 to 171,700 in 2022.

In the US, specific species, including Chinook and Coho salmon, have endangered status due to overfishing, pollution from agricultural run-off and urban development.

In Canada, the fourth largest producer of salmon, production has fallen from a peak of 148,000 tonnes in 2016 to 90,000 tonnes in 2023, according to the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance. Many experts attribute some of the decline to hundreds of thousands of salmon escaping from sea cages and spreading diseases to the wild stock.

Should we all stop eating salmon?

Until recently, salmon was considered a luxury food in many parts of the world. These days it is eaten much more frequently, and many experts say we eat too much of it.

Although salmon is often celebrated by health experts for its omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial for heart health, there is a risk of overconsumption, given the levels of freshwater contamination and diseases that can become pervasive in fish farms, causing populations to fall.

Some farmed salmon has more omega-3 fatty acids than wild salmon but can have high levels of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB). PCBs are synthetic chemicals that have widespread industrial uses. PCBs can “live” in industrial waste that gets dumped into our seas, rivers and streams. PCBs tend to be more prevalent in closed-system environments than open environments, like freshwater rivers.

Many health experts recommend eating wild salmon because of their lower levels of PCBs. Freshwater salmon also tend to be less susceptible to those fish-related diseases that are more common in farm-raised salmon.

According to Roberts, encouraging people to eat less salmon would not be particularly practical.

However, he said, collaboration with organisations like the Missing Salmon Alliance, which brings together other NGOs that advocate for sensible production of salmon while preserving the salmon ecosystem, can help put pressure on governments to implement more stringent rules for fisheries to preserve current populations and increase salmon populations.

A European eel in the River Culm, England [Shutterstock]

Are other fish species in danger as well?

According to Roberts, another endangered fish is the eel. The conditions that have endangered salmon are very similar to those that are threatening eels: overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution and climate change.

Eels are an important food source for mammals that live around rivers and streams, including minks and otters. Smaller eels are an important food source for birds too.

Due to low eel populations, the European Union implemented regulations on eel fishing in 2018.

According to a May report from the European Parliamentary Research Service: “The European eel (Anguilla anguilla) has suffered a 90 percent to 95 percent decline in its population since the 1980s. Within 50 years, the European eel has turned from one of the most abundant freshwater fish to an endangered species.”

How is climate change contributing to this?

Rising water temperatures as a result of climate change pose significant challenges for salmon. As the water warms, its oxygen content decreases, making breathing more difficult for these fish. Consequently, salmon must swim greater distances in pursuit of nourishment and cooler waters, further taxing their already strained systems.

According to Roberts, warmer waters destroy some nutrients in oceans and rivers, which affect food chains. Atlantic salmon typically eat zooplankton, blue whiting, sand eels, small insects, insect larvae and small crustaceans called amphipods or scuds. As food for the salmon becomes more scarce, this can have a negative impact on the size of the salmon.

Smaller salmon produce fewer eggs. Fewer eggs mean a decrease in the overall population.

“Now, as it grows, it gets faster, more powerful. It can evade predators, but if they grow more slowly, they’re more vulnerable to predation,” Roberts said. “And what we found is that the decrease in the growth rate of salmon is most marked during their first summer at sea.”

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World

Leaders embrace two-speed Europe as Macron sets June deadline

Published

48 minutes ago

February 12, 2026

Press Room

Leaders embrace two-speed Europe as Macron sets June deadline

European leaders floated a two-speed union as the fastest way to break a political impasse over economic reforms needed to reboot the European economy, as French President Emmanuel Macron set a summer deadline for a broad deal.

“What we decided today is that between now and June, we will have to finalise the agenda,” Macron said upon departing the castle. “If in June we don’t have concrete prospects and concrete progress, we will continue with enhanced cooperation.”

While the EU is built on consensus at 27, frustrations about the pace of reforms prompted calls to work in smaller groups of countries in what would signal a shift in European politics, favouring action and speed over unanimity.

The so-called enhanced cooperation is a legal provision in the EU treaties that allows at least nine countries to join forces and advance initiatives on their own. It came to prominence in December after EU leaders triggered the mechanism to issue a €90 billion loan to Ukraine without Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

“Often we move forward with the speed of the slowest, and the enhanced cooperation avoids that,” Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, said in the closing press conference.

Von der Leyen name-checked two legislative files for which the legal tool will be considered: the first phase of the Savings and Investment Union, which aims to create a cross-border system to mobilise private savings into strategic projects, and the 28th regime, which aims to create a uniform framework to set up companies across the bloc.

Enhanced cooperation for the Savings and Investment Union could be considered as early as June if “no sufficient progress” is achieved by capitals, she added.

By her side, António Costa, the president of the European Council, said he would “work to avoid” the emergence of a two-speed Europe as much as possible and always strive for an agreement by all 27 member states.

“This is our first goal,” Costa underlined. “If it doesn’t work, of course, the Treaty of Lisbon offers several solutions. One of them is enhanced cooperation.”

Von der Leyen echoed the sentiment. “Don’t get me wrong, I prefer it by 27,” she said.

Impatience for change

The push to break the deadlock was shared by other leaders who attended the retreat at the Alden Biesen castle in eastern Belgium, heavily focused on competitiveness. Capitals have grown increasingly desperate over the widening gap between the EU and its main global competitors, namely the US and China.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who sought to portray an image of unity with Macron after public disagreements over eurobonds (joint debt) and the “Made in Europe” preference, spoke of a “strong sense of urgency” to effect change.

“The European Union has to act swiftly and resolutely,” he said.

Earlier on Thursday, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described a two-speed Europe as the appropriate way to proceed in the current context.

“If you had asked me five or ten years ago, I would have said no,” Frederiksen told reporters. “Now you ask me today, and then I would say yes. “

“Several (countries) can block Europe from doing what is right for Europe, and I think we will see governments that are pro-Russian and that are in reality against Europe”, the Danish leader added, saying it is unacceptable that “we do not do what is needed for Europe because of one country or two.”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also expressed support.

Further encouragement came from Mario Draghi, the former president of the European Central Bank, who authored a highly influential report on competitiveness and attended Thursday’s summit as a special guest.

During his address to leaders, Draghi recommended exploring the use of enhanced cooperation to “move faster” in high-priority areas such as the Savings and Investment Union, the single market and energy prices, an EU official said.

A two-speed Europe is controversial by nature because it separates member states into different leagues, but it is, in many ways, already a reality. The eurozone and the Schengen Area are the most visible examples of a two-tier system.

Before the Ukraine loan, enhanced cooperation had been used to create the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), introduce a unitary patent and harmonise divorce law.

Besides these structures, which are underpinned by legal statutes, European countries regularly team up in informal groupings to defend common interests, such as the “Frugal Four” and the “Friends of Cohesion” during budget talks. The Weimar Triangle, the MED9, the Visegrád group and the Nordic-Baltic Eight are other examples.

Last month, the finance ministers of Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain launched a new coalition, dubbed the E6, to push for “decisive action and swift progress” in four strategic areas, including defence and supply chains.

“We are providing the impetus, and other countries are welcome to join us,” said German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, extending an open invitation.

World

Transgender ex-student identified as alleged suspect in Canada school mass shooting that left at least 9 dead

Published

12 hours ago

February 12, 2026

Press Room

Transgender ex-student identified as alleged suspect in Canada school mass shooting that left at least 9 dead

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At least nine people were killed in connection to a mass shooting Tuesday at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia, officials said Wednesday. Police identified the suspect, reportedly also found dead, as an 18-year-old transgender woman who allegedly killed two of their family members at home before opening fire at the school.

The Tumbler Ridge Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed to Fox News Digital that officers responded to reports of an active shooter at the school at 1:20 p.m. local time Tuesday. While searching the school, officers found six victims dead from gunshot wounds and the alleged shooter, identified as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, dead from what appeared to be a self-inflicted injury.

Authorities said Van Rootselaar had attended the school before dropping out roughly four years ago. Van Rootselaar, who identified as female but was assigned male at birth, began transitioning six years ago.

Van Rootselaar reportedly had a history of mental health–related contact with police and may have had access to weapons stored at home. Police said officials visited the residence multiple times in recent years for mental health calls, during which weapons were briefly seized under the Criminal Code but later returned following a petition by the lawful owner.

Police tape surrounds the Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and other buildings in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, on Wednesday, a day after a mass shooting there. (Jesse Boily /The Canadian Press via AP)

Two firearms, a long gun and a modified handgun, were recovered inside the school by the police, RCMP said. Neither weapon was registered to Van Rootselaar, who previously had a firearms license, but expired in 2024.

The six victims found at the school were identified as a 39-year-old female educator, three 12-year-old female students, and two male students, aged 12 and 13.

During the investigation, police identified a secondary location believed to be connected to the incident. Two additional victims were found dead inside a residence and were identified as the suspect’s 39-year-old mother and 11-year-old step-brother.

Officials added that two victims were airlifted to a hospital with serious or life-threatening injuries. One of the wounded, a woman previously believed to have died, is now alive, lowering the death toll from the initially reported 10 to nine.

7-YEAR-OLD INJURES HAND AFTER ACCIDENTALLY DISCHARGING FIREARM IN MARYLAND CLASSROOM

A screengrab from a video shows students exiting the Tumbler Ridge school after deadly shootings, in British Columbia, Canada, Tuesday. (Jordon Kosik via AP)

Approximately 25 others with non-life-threatening injuries were taken for assessment at the local medical center, police said.

“This was a rapidly evolving and dynamic situation, and the swift cooperation from the school, first responders, and the community played a critical role in our response,” Superintendent Ken Floyd, North District Commander, said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with the families, loved ones, and all those impacted by this tragic incident. This has been an incredibly difficult and emotional day for our community, and we are grateful for the cooperation shown as officers continue their work to advance the investigation.”

All remaining students and staff were safely evacuated from the school, police said.

Police do not believe there are any additional suspects or ongoing threat to the public.

Floyd confirmed the shooter was the same individual described in a police alert issued earlier in the day as a “female in a dress with brown hair.”

BROWN UNIVERSITY SHOOTING BODYCAM FOOTAGE SHOWS URGENT SEARCH FOR SUSPECT WHO SLIPPED THROUGH DRAGNET

A map showing the location of the Tumbler Ridge school shooting. (The Associated Press)

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was devastated by the horrific shootings.

“My prayers and deepest condolences are with the families and friends who have lost loved ones to these horrific acts of violence. I join Canadians in grieving with those whose lives have been changed irreversibly today, and in gratitude for the courage and selflessness of the first responders who risked their lives to protect their fellow citizens. Our ability to come together in crisis is the best of our country — our empathy, our unity, and our compassion for each other,” he wrote on X.

The RCMP initially confirmed an active shooter incident Tuesday at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia, with at least one suspect found dead.

Additional police resources were deployed to the area from neighboring detachments, along with the North District Emergency Response Team.

BROWN UNIVERSITY, MIT SHOOTINGS: ARE ELITE US UNIVERSITIES PREPARED FOR TARGETED VIOLENCE?

In a message posted to its website, the Peace River South School District said it was “aware of a lockdown and secure and hold at Tumbler Ridge Secondary and Tumbler Ridge Elementary schools.”

“We are asking people to have patience as we work with the RCMP,” school officials wrote.

Larry Neufeld, who represents Peace River South in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, released a statement on social media noting he was heading to the scene.

“I am aware of the active shooter situation currently unfolding in Tumbler Ridge, and my thoughts are with residents as this situation continues to develop,” Neufeld wrote. “I have been in direct contact with the Solicitor General to receive updates and to ensure all necessary provincial resources are being made available to support local law enforcement and emergency responders.

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“Public safety is the absolute priority. I urge everyone in the area to follow RCMP instructions, remain sheltered, and rely only on official updates,” he continued. “I am leaving Victoria immediately to return to my riding to be on the ground and available to support the community in any way needed. I will continue to stay closely engaged as this situation evolves.”

Alexandra Koch is a Fox News Digital journalist who covers breaking news, with a focus on high-impact events that shape national conversation.

She has covered major national crises, including the L.A. wildfires, Potomac and Hudson River aviation disasters, Boulder terror attack, and Texas Hill Country floods.

World

Photos: Bangladeshis turn out for historic election after Hasina’s downfall

Published

13 hours ago

February 12, 2026

Press Room

Photos: Bangladeshis turn out for historic election after Hasina’s downfall

Published On 12 Feb 2026

Voters across Bangladesh have participated in parliamentary elections, marking a pivotal moment for the nation’s democracy following a period of significant political upheaval and violence.

After a gradual start, polling stations in the capital, Dhaka, and throughout the country filled with voters by mid-morning. Voting will conclude later on Thursday with results anticipated on Friday.

More than 127 million eligible voters are participating in Bangladesh’s first election since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government fell in 2024 after widespread protests led largely by young people, who were killed in their hundreds by security forces at her order.

Hasina fled to India, where she remains in exile, and her party has been barred from the election. She has been sentenced to death in absentia for the crackdown.

Tarique Rahman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has emerged as a frontrunner to form the next government. The son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Rahman returned to Bangladesh in December after 17 years of self-imposed exile in London. He has committed to strengthening democratic institutions, re-establishing the rule of law, and addressing the country’s economic challenges.

Competing against the BNP is an 11-party coalition led by Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh’s largest Islamist party. Previously banned under Hasina, the party has gained significant influence since her ouster.

After voting, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Shafiqur Rahman expressed confidence, telling reporters, “It [the election] is a turning point. People demand change. They desire change. We also desire the change.”

The election is overseen by an interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, which has promised a fair and transparent process. Approximately 500 international observers and foreign journalists, including delegations from the European Union and the Commonwealth, are monitoring the proceedings.

Bangladesh’s 350-seat Parliament includes 300 directly elected representatives and 50 seats reserved for women. The recent postponement of voting in one constituency following a candidate’s death leaves 299 seats being contested.

The outcome could fundamentally reshape Bangladesh, whose post-independence history since 1971 has been defined by entrenched political parties, military interventions, and contested elections. Young voters, including five million first-time participants who were instrumental in the 2024 uprising, are expected to significantly influence results.