Thursday, February 09, 2006

St. Andrews…The Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) is optimistic about salmon conservation under newly-appointed Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Minister the Honourable Loyola Hearn of St. John’s, NF. ASF anticipates partnering with DFO to maximize the effectiveness of Canada’s programs to restore wild Atlantic salmon, beginning with the implementation of the Atlantic Salmon Endowment Fund (ASEF).

ASF President Bill Taylor said, “We were pleased when an ASEF was announced in February, 2005, but a year later, it is not up and running. The Federal budget identified $30 million as a one-time investment to help support projects designed to address declines in wild Atlantic salmon. We worked with our Regional Councils to provide to DFO an administration framework that would work efficiently and ensure the maximum amount of funding finds its way to actual salmon conservation projects. However, the election call put the ASEF on hold. We are now faced with the challenge of getting the Fund up and running.

I am encouraged by the Minister’s strong support for salmon restoration that he displayed in his personal involvement in restoration projects in Newfoundland and on the Parliamentary Fisheries Committee, and believe he will move to get ASEF approved by Parliament in the spring session. “Even if this government moves expeditiously, we will not see funding available to fund actual work on watersheds until at least 2007,” concluded Mr. Taylor.

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) which have a membership of more than 150 river associations and 40,000 volunteers. The regional councils cover the freshwater range of the Atlantic salmon in Canada and the United States.

ASF Contact: Sue Scott, VP Communications

506 529-1027 (direct line) or 506 529-4581 (switchboard)

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