SALMON in the upper River Wharfe could be forced out because of climate change, it was claimed this week.

The Environment Agency believes that salmon could be forced to find new homes by the 2050s because of expected increases in temperature and decreased rainfall.

Dr Harriet Orr, a research fellow at the agency, told a climate change conference, in London, on Wednesday, that changes needed to be made to ensure the future of vulnerable fish.

She added: "While we can limit the worse effects of climate change by reducing emissions, we need to start thinking about how we adapt our river management practices for unavoidable climate change. Our rivers, and the fish within them, are particularly vulnerable and we need to start planning for that now."

Salmon rely on rivers providing different water depths and river speeds at various stages in their lives.

Less rainfall, due to climate change, could reduce river flows, making it harder for salmon to move between breeding grounds.

Dr Orr said the Environment Agency, and others, had worked hard to improve the Wharfe's health and had seen salmon returning in increasing numbers.

But, she said, with less water flowing, salmon would have fewer suitable habitats for breeding, finding it harder to access these sites.