Royal links to Fordingbridge charity highlighted with new coins
King Charles III is the patron of the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust
The royal connection of a charity based in Fordingbridge has been highlighted by a new set of coins coming into circulation.
HM King Charles III is the patron of the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), which has been working to reverse the decline of most of the species featured on the new coins.
On the new 50p, an Atlantic Salmon features, with wild numbers reduced by 80% over the last four decades.
Dylan Roberts, Head of Fisheries at GWCT, says the King is a keen fisherman, with Atlantic Salmon found in the River Dean at the King's Balmoral Estate in Scotland.
"He's very concerned about the massive decline that's occurred to our wild Atlantic salmon over the last 30-40 years, and I think that this is recognition of his concern about that decline by having the salmon on on the 50 pence piece to raise awareness."
Atlantic Salmon 'at risk'
Dylan explained to Greatest Hits Radio that the reasons for Atlantic Salmon being at risk are 'complex'.
He told us numbers surviving into adulthood in the sea's are not as high as they used to be and that there are factors in our rivers that are affecting Salmon.
"Salmon need cold clean water. And unfortunately, our rivers through climate change are getting warmer and they're not as clean as they used to be."
Dylan added that as most of our land is farmed, its having a negative impact on the Salmon's nursery habitats.
The GWCT is working with famers and land owners to improve the situation for Salmon, including being a founder member of the Missing Salmon Alliance, formed in 2019, where the King even gave an opening speech at the launch.
Wider impacts of a depleting food source
Atlantic Salmon are a 'keystone species' according to Dylan, in that they play a crucial role in the ecosystem.
Birds such as Heron's, Cormorant's and Kingfishers feed on juvenile Salmon in rivers, while at sea they're preyed upon by Seals, Dolphins and Porpoises.
"They are very much a food source for a number of top predators both in the river and at sea.
"And obviously, declining numbers of salmon means that you're gonna get declines in those species as well."
And this could see numbers of those animals in the wild around the British Isles.
And although we see Salmon for sale in supermarkets, Dylan told us that it's all farmed Salmon and wild Atlantic Salmon won't be found.