Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar)

Found in the cleanest rivers in Wales, Scotland, and North and south West England. Found in most river systems in Ireland. An anadromous species, meaning adults migrate from the sea to breed in freshwater. Travelling upstream from November to February, Atlantic salmon can be spotted jumping over weirs and waterfalls to get to the gravelly headwaters where they breed. Juvenile salmon remain in UK river systems for several years.

• Adult Atlantic salmon typically return to spawn in the river where they spent their juvenile lives. Therefore, site identification can be aided by looking for sites with sites historic atlantic salmon populations.
• Avoid reusing equipment from the kits for different samples to limit the risk of contamination between sites.
• Avoid stepping into the water – this can stir up sediment, throwing up sediment DNA and any inhibitory molecules present. Sediment may clog the filter and prevent sufficient volumes of water being filtered.