Rhine salmon are not yet independent of human help and stocking exercises. But they already reproduce naturally in several tributaries to the Lower, Middle and Upper Rhine. By the end of 2016, more than 8000 adult salmon were proved to have migrated upstream the Rhine and its tributaries to spawn and reproduce. This raises hopes that almost stable wild salmon populations may be achieved in the Rhine system by the year 2020.
„Salmon 2020“ is part of the ICPR-programme Rhine 2020 for the sustainable development of the Rhine and continues the successful programme Salmon 2000.
With Salmon 2020, the following visions are supposed to become true: