Scientists Indicate Large Salmon Need Special Conservation Measures

International Meetings Crucial to Saving Endangered Populations

St. Andrews (Vocus) May 27, 2009 -- The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) released sobering data on the health of wild Atlantic salmon populations (http://www.asf.ca) as Canada, the United States, and other North Atlantic governments prepare for meetings of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO) in Norway, June 2-5.

There is a serious shortage of large North American salmon expected to return to North American rivers from West Greenland. ICES warns that large salmon originating in North America will fail to meet even minimum conservation targets between 2009 and 2011. These important salmon that contribute the majority of eggs needed to seed Canadian and American rivers declined 82% over the past 38 years, and not even one region in North America produced enough large salmon to meet conservation limits during 2008. "The scientific data reinforces the need for strong fisheries management measures in North America and at West Greenland," said Bill Taylor, President of the Atlantic Salmon Federation.

Three countries contribute to the kill of large Atlantic salmon of North American origin: Canada, Greenland and France in respect to the salmon fishery carried out at St-Pierre et Miquelon. These countries allow mixed-population Atlantic salmon fisheries which are especially harmful as the gill nets used harvest indiscriminately. The nets kill migrating salmon that originate from both healthier river populations, as well as those that come from rivers where their numbers are so low that they are facing extinction. In these rivers, every salmon counts.

The United States has proposed to greatly expand the geographic range and number of salmon rivers listed under the Endangered Species Act in Maine from eight small mid-coast and down east rivers to the state's three largest rivers: the Penobscot, Kennebec and Androscoggin. Given the expanded listing, it is critical that these salmon are not killed at West Greenland, St- Pierre et Miquelon or at Labrador.

The Atlantic Salmon Federation (http://www.asf.ca), participating as an accredited non government organization (NGO) at the NASCO meetings, will strongly advocate for measures that will spare large salmon to allow as many as possible to return and spawn in North American rivers.

A coalition of 26 European and North American NGOs will urge NASCO to reach a multi-year agreement to continue to restrict Greenland's commercial fishery to a zero quota; persuade France in respect to St-Pierre et Miquelon to accede to the NASCO Convention to facilitate a much-needed exchange of information and resolution of management challenges; and urge Canada to better control its harvest of large salmon.

Mr. Taylor concluded, "I wish to acknowledge the tremendous effort that the United States is making to protect and restore its endangered populations of wild Atlantic salmon. The NASCO NGOs recognize this and are supportive of all fisheries management measures that restrict the possibility of interception of these endangered populations in mixed-population fisheries operated by other countries."

ASF Contact:

Sue Scott, Vice President - Communications

506 529-1027 or 506 529-4581

The Atlantic Salmon Federation is an international, non-profit organization that promotes the conservation and wise management of wild Atlantic salmon and their environment. ASF has a network of seven regional councils (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Maine and Western New England). The regional councils cover the freshwater range of the Atlantic salmon in Canada and the United States.

The North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO) was established to promote the conservation, restoration, enhancement and rational management of salmon stocks in the North Atlantic Ocean through international cooperation. Member Governments are the United States, Canada, European Union (including England & Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, France, Germany, Spain), the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Portugal, and the Russian Federation. NASCO is an international body established under the Convention for the Conservation of Salmon in the North Atlantic Ocean, founded 1 October 1983.

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