A project monitoring fish populations in two major UK rivers is approaching its concluding stage.

The Wye & Usk Foundation requires additional backing to obtain over £6,000 in matched funding from the Garfield Weston Foundation within days.

The campaign aims to gather £20,000 for ‘Reading the River,’ an effort focused on recording populations of juvenile salmon and trout.

Funds raised will also go toward conservation activities.

Atlantic salmon populations in both the Wye and Usk have suffered steep declines over the past decade.

Official data indicates annual catches have fallen from more than 1,000 specimens to fewer than 100.

According to a representative for the charity, the scheme will finance data collection allowing the organisation to take targeted action at specific sites.

Findings from the surveillance will determine which river stretches demand habitat improvement most immediately.

This data also assists the foundation’s land management specialists with work encompassing fencing, hedge laying, pH adjustment, gravel replenishment and clearing barriers to migratory fish passage.

Donations to the appeal may be made via the foundation’s Big Give webpage, with pledged matching contributions applying exclusively to pledges submitted through this portal.