People across North Wales are being invited to discover the remarkable journeys made by migratory fish as part of this year’s World Fish Migration Day celebrations.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is hosting a series of events across Wales on Saturday, May 23, aimed at raising awareness of the importance of free-flowing rivers and the urgent challenges facing species such as Atlantic salmon, sea trout and lamprey.

One of the key events with relevance to North Wales will take place at the Chester fish monitoring trap on the River Dee between 11am and 2pm, where visitors will be able to see first-hand how fish populations are monitored and learn more about conservation work taking place across the Dee catchment.

The open day, organised by NRW Fisheries and the LIFE Dee River project, will include demonstrations, information about river restoration schemes and opportunities for families to learn about the wildlife living in one of the region’s most important rivers.

The River Dee plays a vital role in North Wales environmentally, economically and culturally. It supplies drinking water to large parts of the region and supports tourism, angling and biodiversity across communities stretching from Snowdonia through Wrexham and into Cheshire.

Migratory fish species are considered a key indicator of river health because they depend on clean, connected waterways to complete their life cycles.

Atlantic salmon are among the most extraordinary migratory animals in the natural world, travelling thousands of miles between Welsh rivers and the Atlantic Ocean during their lifetime before returning to the same rivers where they were born to spawn.

However, salmon populations in Wales have fallen dramatically in recent decades. Numbers caught by anglers are now at record lows, with concerns some Welsh rivers could lose their salmon populations entirely if conditions do not improve.

Environmental experts say habitat loss, barriers such as weirs and culverts, pollution, climate change and declining water quality are all contributing to the crisis.

In North Wales, projects linked to the River Dee have focused on improving fish migration routes, restoring river habitats and removing obstacles that prevent fish reaching spawning grounds upstream.

Organisers say these efforts not only benefit fish populations but also improve wider river ecosystems that support birds, mammals, insects and local communities.

Nick Thomas, Strategic Projects Manager at NRW, said: “We hope these events will raise awareness of the epic migration journeys that are made every year by the fish in our rivers, and show that we need to work together to restore river connectivity and protect these species before it’s too late.”

The River Dee is designated as a Special Area of Conservation due to its international importance for species including salmon, lamprey, otters and water crowfoot.

As well as the Dee event, activities are also being held along the Rivers Usk and Wye, including guided walks, pond dipping and river sampling sessions designed to educate people about freshwater habitats and conservation.

The LIFE Dee River project is funded through the EU LIFE Programme with support from the Welsh Government and forms part of wider efforts to improve the ecological health of rivers across Wales.

Environmental groups say public awareness events such as World Fish Migration Day are increasingly important as rivers continue to face pressure from climate change, pollution incidents and rising temperatures which threaten fragile aquatic ecosystems.