A SCOTTISH university's project to boost numbers of salmon in rivers "facing crisis" has shown signs of success.
The University of the Highlands and Islands' (UHI) River Carron Conservation Project has been found to have stabilised the number of the fish in the river over 13 years.
The news comes as salmon are set to be listed as an endangered species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
Wester Ross' salmon population remained stable during the study period, while between 2006 and now the numbers of the fish in British waters have dropped by 30-50%.
UHI's project also protected the genetic integrity of the river's salmon population, and avoided disrupting the natural behavioural patterns of the fish.
Experts worry that salmon numbers could drop further in coming years.
The UHI team, lead by scientist Bob Kindness, is continuing to analyse the project's data in advance of a report on it being published in the autumn.
It is hoped that the success of the Wester Ross efforts will inform conservation projects in other places.
