NorthStandard joins Tyne Rivers Trust as new Charity Partner to support the Story of Salmon
Tyne Rivers Trust is pleased to welcome leading marine insurer NorthStandard as a new Charity Partner, supporting a project that will combine citizen science, ecological monitoring and storytelling to build a deeper understanding of the River Tyne and the wildlife that depends upon it.
Through its Charity Partner Programme, NorthStandard is funding The River Tyne’s Story of Salmon, a new Tyne Rivers Trust project that will focus on one of the river’s most iconic species, Atlantic salmon.
The salmon’s remarkable journey connects the whole river system. A Tyne salmon’s life begins in a gravel stream high in the North Pennines or the hills of Northumberland. From there it journeys downstream through tributaries, towns and the tidal Tyne before entering the North Sea and travelling thousands of miles across the North Atlantic. Years later, it returns to the River Tyne, navigating back through the estuary and upstream tributaries to the place where its life began. In doing so, it connects every part of the landscape, from headwaters to sea, and tells a powerful story about the health of the river itself. Water quality, habitat, river connectivity and changes across the surrounding landscape can all influence whether salmon and other wildlife are able to thrive.
With NorthStandard’s support, Tyne Rivers Trust will recruit and train a new team of eight Ecology Volunteers, giving them specialist skills in fish identification, ecological surveying and electrofishing.
Working alongside the Trust’s Science Team, the volunteers will help carry out eight days of fish surveys on the River Tyne and its tributaries. The surveys will help build a clearer picture of fish populations and river health, strengthening the evidence available to guide future restoration and conservation work.
The monitoring will also provide the foundations for The River Tyne’s Story of Salmon, turning scientific evidence into an accessible story that helps people understand how different parts of the river are connected and why the health of the whole catchment matters.
Sophia Stovall, Chief Executive of Tyne Rivers Trust, said:
“Salmon are an extraordinary part of the River Tyne’s story. Their journey connects our headwaters, tributaries, communities, estuary and coast, and their ability to thrive can tell us a great deal about the health of the river system as a whole.
“NorthStandard’s support will enable us not only to gather more of the evidence we need to protect and restore our rivers, but also to give people opportunities to get involved and understand what that evidence means for the places and wildlife around them.
“We are very grateful to welcome NorthStandard as a Charity Partner and look forward to working together to help more people connect with and care for the River Tyne.”
The project is designed to leave a lasting legacy beyond its first year. The trained Ecology Volunteer team will increase the Trust’s capacity to undertake future monitoring, while the information gathered will contribute to a growing scientific evidence base that can support Tyne Rivers Trust and its partners in planning and prioritising river restoration.
Chloe Kelly, CSR Executive, NorthStandard, said:
“NorthStandard is delighted to support Tyne Rivers Trust as one of our new Charity Partners. The Trust’s source-to-sea approach recognises that healthy rivers are essential to thriving communities, resilient ecosystems and a sustainable future.
We are impressed by the practical action the Trust takes to protect and restore rivers, engage local people, and build resilience to the environmental challenges facing our waterways.
By supporting The River Tyne’s Story of Salmon, we hope to contribute to a shared vision of healthier rivers, richer wildlife and stronger connections between people and the natural environment.
Many of our colleagues experience the River Tyne every day from our Newcastle office overlooking the Quayside. We look forward to getting closer to the river and its catchment through volunteering with Tyne Rivers Trust on citizen science and river restoration.”
About The River Tyne’s Story of Salmon
NorthStandard’s funding will support staff time, volunteer training, ecological survey activity, data analysis and interpretation, and the development of The River Tyne’s Story of Salmon as a public engagement resource.
By Autumn 2027, the project aims to have created a trained team of eight Ecology Volunteers, completed fish monitoring across approximately 25–30 sites, strengthened understanding of fish populations and river health, and established the foundations for an annual programme bringing together community science, ecological evidence and river stewardship.
About NorthStandard:
NorthStandard is one of the leading providers of global marine insurance products and services across the maritime industries. Established through the merger of North P&I Club and the Standard Club in February 2023 and ‘A’ rated by S&P Global, NorthStandard has premium revenues exceeding US$886 million, free reserves of US$800 million and mutual pool tonnage surpassing 270 million GT.
From headquarters in the UK and with offices throughout Europe, Asia and the Americas, NorthStandard offers a unique blend of worldwide presence and class-leading expertise across multiple specialist areas, including P&I, FD&D, War Risks, Strike & Delay, Hull and Machinery and ancillary insurance. Its Sunderland Marine and Coastal & Inland divisions also provide cover for owners’ fixed premium P&I, fishing vessels, inland waterway and coastal trading vessels. NorthStandard’s comprehensive local market and sector knowledge is underpinned by continuous investments in market-leading digital technologies.
NorthStandard is a leading member of the International Group of P&I Clubs (IG) and is fully committed to upholding the shared objectives of its 12 independent member clubs, which provide liability cover for approximately 85% of the world’s ocean-going tonnage.
