AN initiative to boost the survival rates of salmon in the River Itchen was launched yesterday(April 22).
Officers from the Environment Agency introduced stocks of juvenile salmon into the river near Northington in an effort to encourage the fish to migrate to the area.
Salmon return to the same area where they were born and it is hoped the initiative will encourage the fish to migrate to the river's upper parts, where the chances of survival are greater.
Hannah Wright, Hampshire's fisheries project officer for the Environment Agency, said: "This is a very valuable programme that dramatically increases the chance of eggs developing into returning adult fish.
"We know from research carried out that egg survival in the wild is quite poor, particularly in the lower stretches of the river.
"We hope this work will open up the whole of the River Itchen to this endangered and highly protected fish."
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