Young Voices Call for Salmon Conservation at the Wild Salmon Connections Conference

The voices of children rang loud and clear at the recent Wild Salmon Connections Conference, as students from across the Thames River Basin took centre stage at Fishmongers’ Hall, London, to speak on behalf of one of Britain’s most endangered species— the wild Atlantic salmon.

The students had all been part of Thames Salmon School, a project led by Thames Rivers Trust and funded by The Atlantic Salmon Trust working in partnership with The Salmon School and 6 fellow Rivers Trusts (Action for the River Kennet, Thames21, South East Rivers Trust, Cotswolds Rivers Trust, River Thame Conservation Trust and The Rivers Trust) to deliver an engaging and unique, hand on educational experience beyond the classroom; bringing together a mix of science, art, and conservation to better understand the plight of Atlantic salmon and their local rivers.

The students became conservation advocates for wild salmon and this fish’s need for cold clean water, sharing their findings and first-hand experiences through the innovative project with an audience of international scientists, conservationists, policymakers, and business leaders.

‘You must act now’, was one student’s powerful message at the opening of the conference hosted by The Missing Salmon Alliance. Emily, from John Rankin Primary told delegates, ‘My message to you at this conference is that you must act now to protect salmon and our environment. I want a future with healthy rivers full of life.’

Full Press Release Here.