Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Can beaver-engineered ecosystems and migratory fish thrive together?
Beaver Trust is proud to share our latest documentary, which explores the delicate balance between beaver restoration and the conservation of migratory fish populations.
Our freshwater fish populations play a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems, yet they exist in a perilous state, with over one third of species facing extinction.
Wild Atlantic salmon, a keystone species, are in crisis, having declined by 70% in the last 25 years. In Great Britain, the species is now classified as endangered following the latest reassessment by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, announced at COP28 in December 2023.
The reintroduction of beavers—another keystone species—has the potential to be transformative for these ecosystems. Their engineering can create a rich diversity of habitats, providing improved areas for rearing and overwintering, refuge from predation, strong currents and rising temperatures, as well as increased insect production.
However, concerns remain about the ability of beaver dams to impede the movement of migratory species to and from their spawning grounds at critical times of year. While these impacts are highly dependent on site and species, and change over time, they are often perceived as an additional threat to already vulnerable migratory populations.
This groundbreaking film is the first in Britain to address this important topic, bringing the most up-to-date understanding and evidence to light.
With stunning visuals, insights from leading experts, and narration by the distinguished Dame Joanna Lumley, it highlights both the promising opportunities and the urgent challenges at the intersection of species restoration and conservation.
Can beaver-engineered ecosystems and migratory fish thrive together?
Beaver Trust is proud to share our latest documentary, which explores the delicate balance between beaver restoration and the conservation of migratory fish populations.
Our freshwater fish populations play a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems, yet they exist in a perilous state, with over one third of species facing extinction.
Wild Atlantic salmon, a keystone species, are in crisis, having declined by 70% in the last 25 years. In Great Britain, the species is now classified as endangered following the latest reassessment by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, announced at COP28 in December 2023.
The reintroduction of beavers—another keystone species—has the potential to be transformative for these ecosystems. Their engineering can create a rich diversity of habitats, providing improved areas for rearing and overwintering, refuge from predation, strong currents and rising temperatures, as well as increased insect production.
However, concerns remain about the ability of beaver dams to impede the movement of migratory species to and from their spawning grounds at critical times of year. While these impacts are highly dependent on site and species, and change over time, they are often perceived as an additional threat to already vulnerable migratory populations.
This groundbreaking film is the first in Britain to address this important topic, bringing the most up-to-date understanding and evidence to light.
With stunning visuals, insights from leading experts, and narration by the distinguished Dame Joanna Lumley, it highlights both the promising opportunities and the urgent challenges at the intersection of species restoration and conservation.
