Atlantic salmon are anadromous species. Hatching in freshwater, the juveniles will live and forage in the river until they reach an adequate developmental size to migrate downstream towards estuaries and eventually to Atlantic Ocean feeding grounds, returning to freshwater to spawn. The salmon undergo many physiological, behavioural and morphological changes in order to successfully complete their lifecycles. Without suitable habitat the salmon may be unable to complete their lifecycles and successfully breed.

Since the salmon travel such large distances, it may be difficult to pinpoint the cause of stress on a population.

When choosing a site for monitoring, it is important to be familiar with the area of interest. Going into your area with clear objectives and issues (i.e. spatial constraints) will maximize efficiency in the field. It is also important to ensure you have permission from land‐owners to work on the land of interest.