The exact location of the feeding grounds was unknown until the 1950’s, when commercial fishermen began catching large numbers of salmon off the coast of Greenland. Another major feeding ground was later discovered around the Faeroe Islands, north of Scotland. More feeding grounds have since been discovered. There are even reports of salmon feeding under the Arctic ice! With the discovery of these feeding grounds, the troubles really began for the Atlantic salmon. Huge fisheries were built in Greenland and the Faeroe Islands. Thousands of tons of fish were caught by commercial fishermen, and suddenly the numbers returning to breed in the freshwater rivers plummeted. Realizing the seriousness of this problem, governments set various restrictions and quotas for fishermen. This has helped to protect the salmon while at sea.

More difficulties confront the returning salmon when it comes across almost unscalable dams, hydroelectric water schemes, or other man-made obstacles. What happens then? “Many conservation-minded people provide an alternative route,” says Deirdre, a salmon researcher. “An easier incline is constructed that bypasses the large obstruction. We call this a fish ladder or a fish pass. It enables the salmon to leap safely into the higher waters on its journey to the spawning grounds.”

“That does not always work, however,” Deirdre continues. “I have seen some salmon ignore the bypass. They recognize only their original route and try ceaselessly to get over the new man-made obstacle. Many die of exhaustion or beat themselves to death against the obstruction.”

Salmon Farms

Salmon provide nutritious food. Since wild Atlantic salmon are on the decline, commercial salmon farms have been set up. The salmon are kept onshore in freshwater containers until they reach smolt size. Then they are transferred to cagelike structures situated offshore, where they are nurtured until mature and ready to be sold to restaurants and food shops.

Salmon raised in this way are also in trouble. Fish farmers use artificially produced food to feed them. That along with being confined in cages makes the salmon very prone to disease and parasites, such as sea lice. Some of the protective sprays used can be quite potent. “I used to swim beneath some of these fish farms,” says Ernest, a diver, “and it was very noticeable that the seabed was devoid of life around many of those areas.”

A “King” in Trouble

Many wild salmon are caught with offshore nets before ever reaching their home river. The high commercial value of wild salmon encourages some fishermen to take them illegally. The few salmon that manage to get back to the river also have to get past the legal anglers. To protect salmon stocks, various measures have been put in place, such as restricting fishing to designated stretches of river known as beats, imposing expensive levies, and declaring a limited fishing season. Even so, it is estimated that 1 of every 5 salmon will be caught as it makes its way back upriver.

In addition, wild salmon contract various diseases, and these have taken a heavy toll on the salmon population. One of these, known as ulcerative dermal necrosis, causes ulcers on the skin of the fish and eventually death. Industrial pollution and pesticides that find their way into the rivers are other potentially lethal hazards that salmon, as well as all other water creatures, have to combat.

With all these perilous situations to contend with, it is little wonder that the “King of Fishes” is in trouble. Despite the best efforts of many, problems continue for the salmon. Only when the earth’s Creator, Almighty God, stops man from ruining the earth will the balance of nature be restored.​—Isaiah 11:9; 65:25.