Tuesday, June 20, 2006

For immediate release June 19, 2006

St. Andrews – A report by the Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) on the health of wild Atlantic salmon confirms that their survival depends on government resolve to solve the mystery of increased mortality at sea. ASF’s biennial report, based on advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), reveals that about 200,000 of the 700,000 migrating North American salmon won’t make it back to their home rivers in 2006. This amounts to more than twice the mortality of 20 years ago.

ASF’s report Atlantic Salmon at the Balancing Point-2006 indicates that, although the total population has increased by 60% over 2001’s all-time low of 418,000, there are still too few salmon to seed most North American salmon rivers. “In fact,” said ASF President Bill Taylor, “Newfoundland is the only region in North America that is meeting minimum conservation limits.”

In Nova Scotia, salmon numbers remain critically low, in part, due to the impacts of acid rain on the Atlantic coast rivers. One note of optimism is the West River – Sheet Harbour, where the Nova Scotia Salmon Association (NSSA), ASF, and local conservation groups installed an automated “lime doser” in 2005 to raise the water’s pH to levels that will support salmon. Early reports indicate improved conditions.

Wild salmon returning to the 32 inner Bay of Fundy rivers in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia dropped from 40,000 to 200 in just two decades. There was no improvement in 2005 and 2006 looks bleak. This is a prime example of how mortality at sea can impact salmon populations since river conditions appear satisfactory.

On the bright side Nova Scotia’s Northumberland Strait rivers, including the Wallace, Philip and East have had a 10% improvement in juvenile salmon densities since 1985. Grilse returns increased in 2005 and there may be continued improvement in 2006.

In Cape Breton, Atlantic salmon numbers increased in 2005, as evidenced by angling success on the Margaree River. This river surpassed minimum conservation requirements, and it is likely that salmon numbers will be similar in 2006.

“Mortality at sea is the single most important issue to solve to allow continued restoration of the wild Atlantic salmon,” added Mr. Taylor, “and this problem of national significance and international scope requires government intervention.”

Mr. Taylor is urging Canada and the United States to provide research resources and funding to a new international framework for ocean research on salmon that has emerged. Called SALSEA, this program will provide understanding of the mysterious phenomenon whereby wild salmon leave their native rivers to feed in the open North Atlantic, and simply fail to return, even though the obvious culprit, commercial fisheries, have been significantly curtailed.

The SALSEA program requires the commitment and cooperation of all member countries of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO), and an expenditure of about $16,000,000 to be shared among these nations (Canada, United States, European Union, Norway, Russia, Iceland, and Denmark).

“The expenditure is reasonable,” continued Mr. Taylor, “considering that ASF, a non government charitable organization, has already invested more than ten years and $3,000,000 into research on tracking smolt (juvenile salmon) as they migrate to sea. This year, ASF will monitor migrating salmon from various rivers, such as the Restigouche and Miramichi in N.B. and the Grand Cascapedia, St. Jean (North Shore), and York in Quebec to their northern exit from the Gulf of St. Lawrence through the Strait of Belle Isle between Labrador and Newfoundland into the Labrador Sea.

ASF resolved to support and participate in the SALSEA program through advocacy and coordination of our research activities at its Spring Board meeting in Toronto. NASCO greatly welcomed this support at the organization’s annual meeting in Finland in early June.

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 135 river associations and 40,000 volunteers. The regional councils cover the freshwater range of the Atlantic salmon in Canada and the United States.

ASF Contacts:

Sue Scott or Muriel Ferguson

Vice President – Communications Manager, Public Information

506 529-1027 (direct line) 506 529-1033 (direct line)

506 529-4581 (switchboard)

The complete report Atlantic Salmon at the Balancing Point-2006, and an Executive Summary can be found on ASF’s web site at www.asf.ca.

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