Salmon Run Set to Highlight the Journey of the Endangered Atlantic Salmon
Hundreds of people will get involved in a run from Exmouth along the River Exe on Saturday 20 September to highlight the journey of the endangered Atlantic salmon from sea to spawning ground.
Now in its fourth year, the annual Salmon Run, organised by Tidelines working with Wild Running, Sideshore Community and Westcountry Rivers Trust (WRT) offers people the chance to complete a 43-mile ultra run from sea to moor or take part in a community relay of distances between 3km-13km as well as joining a new festival Salmon Run: The Gathering celebrating salmon and their remarkable journey.
Anne-Marie Culhane from Tidelines said: “In the past, thousands of salmon completed an epic trans-Atlantic journey up the Exe to spawn, with the river’s original name Isca meaning ‘river of fish’. Now numbers of returning fish are in the hundreds or less and the species, Atlantic Salmon, are on the Red List of endangered British species, facing possible extinction in our river.
“We are calling for runners, ultra runners, joggers, walkers and people who care for nature to take part and share their love for the river, their community and this amazing species to celebrate its life cycle journey and its ecological and deep cultural significance for UK rivers.”
Ultra runners will travel 43 miles upriver from Exmouth to Dulverton, Exmoor, passing through Exeter and Tiverton on the Exe Valley Way. Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of The Rivers Trust and Missing Salmon Alliance Member will be running his first Ultra with Tidelines in support of this unique project and to raise funds for The Rivers Trust.
Relay teams will run the same route in eleven sections, passing a symbolic hand-crafted salmon baton from team to team with changeovers at different towns and villages along the river. Friends of the River Exe will pop up at the changeover points to invite people to become part of their citizen science network where people monitor water quality and test for pollutants in the river.
This year Tidelines is working with new partners - Sideshore Community in Exmouth to create Salmon Run: The Gathering - a festival for all ages combining talks, creative and music workshops, a bouncy castle in the shape of a river, a restored salmon boat, games and information. ParkRun Exmouth are supporting the first part of the relay to coincide with their 5km Exmouth run and Exmoor National Park Authority are supporting the event at Dulverton with activities for families.
NIcky Nicholls from Sideshore Community said, “We want more people to know and love this extraordinary creature and its story in our river. The partnership with Sideshore Community through the Gathering and joining up with ParkRun Exmouth gives us the chance to connect with many more people. Atlantic Salmon have so much to teach us about climate change and what we can do to support nature to thrive.’’
One runner is London 2012 Olympic gold medal winner in the Men’s Canoe Double Slalom, Etienne Stott. Etienne will also be giving a talk at The Gathering about his olympic achievements and environmental responsibility in sport. He said: “Salmon Run is a truly unique event. By bringing people together, connecting them with the places they run through and nurturing empathy with other beings, we can understand, protect, and act with greater awareness of the natural world and what is at stake from the climate and nature crisis.”
Westcountry Rivers Trust Strategic Exe Weirs project manager Tom Watts said: “As runners make their way from sea to source, they will witness some of the challenges these amazing fish face.
Barriers in the river hinder this iconic species. We are working towards a free-flowing river Exe to make the journey easier for adult salmon to successfully spawn in the upper reaches. Likewise we are working to improve conditions for young salmon at the start of their lives. This year Tidelines is working with us to provide opportunities for people to come up to Exmoor in Winter to plant trees by the river to create important shade and habitat for Salmon and other river species ”
Salmon Run is funded by the Devon Environment Foundation, Sideshore Community and an Aviva Crowdfunder.
The relay run starts in Exmouth at 9am, passing through Exeter Quay/ Riverside Valley Park between 11am and 12am (approx.) and arriving at Dulverton around 5.30pm. The Ultra run leaves Exmouth at 8am. The Gathering at Sideshore will take place from 9.30am to 1pm. People can track the runners and the relay team as they pass up the river.
To sign up to run: https://tidelines.uk/blog/salmon-run-2025/