Thames comeback: salmon return
Thames Comeback Brings Salmon Back
Unexpected ecological return
The River Thames, famously declared biologically dead in 1957, has staged one of the United Kingdom's most striking freshwater recoveries. Over recent decades the river has rebounded to support more than 125 species of fish, and there have been confirmed records of Atlantic salmon returning to stretches once thought lost to pollution. The reversal reflects long‑term habitat restoration, upgraded sewage treatment works and targeted conservation measures that together have improved oxygen levels and fish passage.
Cultural and angling resonance
For anglers, naturalists and cultural historians the sight of salmon in the Thames carries extra weight: it evokes the world of Izaak Walton and the centuries‑old traditions of river angling, while also stimulating modern urban fishing communities and scientific river monitoring. The comeback has prompted local volunteer projects and educational initiatives along the banks, illustrating how persistent ecological effort can revive even heavily modified waterways and restore iconic migratory species to their historic ranges.