Salmon numbers in England and Wales last year were the lowest on record, figures show, as pollution and climate breakdown are killing off the endangered fish.

A report from the Environment Agency and Cefas shows Atlantic salmon stocks in England and Wales have dropped to their lowest level since records began in 1997.

Once common across the waterways of the UK, the fish are now a rare sight for anglers, who log each fish they catch to build up a national picture of the species’ plight. Scientists also set up nets in salmon rivers to chart the prevalence of the fish.