The Atlantic Salmon Trust

AST moves towards its first 50 years with a focus on adapting to changes.

During the last 30 years, numbers of wild salmon returning from the sea have fallen by more than half. Wild Salmon and Sea Trout are an important natural resource in multiple ways, and we need help to find out why so many of them are dying at sea, and what can be done to stem this decline.

Since 1967, the Atlantic Salmon Trust has been involved in the funding and sponsorship of practical research programmes tackling the problems wild Atlantic salmon and sea trout face today. Taking account of the positive changes in management and of profound natural changes in the North Atlantic bio-region AST has adapted its work to ensure that its contributions remain relevant.

During 2012 the AST team has developed the 'Three Pillars' strategy, which enables the trust to support other NGOs in the salmonids fisheries and rivers sector, avoiding duplication and strengthening conservation arguments to influence decision makers. As someone said recently, "AST manufactures the bullets for others to shoot", the concept being that AST offers evidence and science - based arguments on behalf of salmon and sea trout to ensure that those who are responsible for conserving them have access to the most up-to-date facts.