Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Atlantic Salmon at the Balancing Point - Status of North American Wild Salmon 2006

Why do people care about the wild Atlantic salmon?

The wild Atlantic salmon is a barometer for the environmental health of our rivers and their watersheds and is an important part of the ecosystem in which the species lives, including the western Atlantic Ocean through which it migrates. It has cultural importance as part of our heritage and as a valuable component of our economy. The recreational fishery for Atlantic salmon in Canada has a value of about $200 Million, and much of the money spent stays in the rural economies of Atlantic Canada and Quebec. For aboriginal peoples the Atlantic salmon is important as a subsistence food fishery, and for ceremonial purposes.

What is NASCO?

NASCO is a multinational organization established by treaty and includes countries in which Atlantic salmon spawn, and those adjacent to ocean feeding grounds. Member states include Canada, the United States of America, the European Union, the Russian Federation, Iceland, Norway and Denmark (in respect of the Faeroe Islands and Greenland). NASCO recommends international conservation measures for wild Atlantic salmon populations, based on the scientific advice of the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES). It is NASCO's recommendation that no commercial fishery take place in Greenland waters where salmon from southern Europe and North America migrate to feed, since many salmon populations on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean are failing to reach minimum conservation targets.

How long has NASCO existed?

NASCO was formed in 1984, and has evolved through the years to meet new challenges involving Atlantic salmon issues. NASCO now wishes to address the matter of increased mortality at sea, through an emerging program called SALSEA.

What is SALSEA?

SALSEA means Salmon at Sea, and is a framework for encouraging research into causes of ocean mortality and maximizing effectiveness of the research. It includes a framework for improving the sharing of information among scientists, including better databasing, documentation of techniques for researching Atlantic salmon at sea, and coordination of research being undertaken by member countries. This includes genetic analysis, tracking of Atlantic salmon, and the development of an understanding of the details of salmon migration.

How much will SALSEA cost?

NASCO estimates that SALSEA will cost $16M in order to gather the necessary research data and to provide the framework for the improvement in research, sharing of results, and implementing new approaches.

How does the Atlantic Salmon Federation track salmon at sea?

Small acoustic transmitters are surgically implanted in Atlantic salmon smolts and adults by researchers, with each unit having its own transmission code. In smolts they have power to last a few months; in adults up to two years or more. Receivers are placed approximately one kilometre apart at sea in arrays that can extend across large bays such as the Bay of Chaleur, or even ocean straits such as that between Labrador and Newfoundland.

How else could this technology be used?

This new emerging tracking technology can be used with species other than salmon - and the same 'array' can follow the movements of other species at the same time. ASF's arrays in the Bay of Chaleur or the planned research in the Strait of Belle Isle could be useful in understanding groundfish as well.

Who makes the tracking equipment?

The acoustic 'pingers' and receivers are manufactured by a Canadian company, VEMCO, based in Nova Scotia - and they have become world leaders in the the technology. ASF has become a leader in the methods by which they are deployed and anchored to the sea floor, and in gathering and analyzing the wealth of data obtained.

Who has supported ASF's tracking research?

The Atlantic Salmon Federation has had support from funding partners and organizations involved with implementing the technology, plus Fisheries and Oceans Canada. A program of "adopting a smolt" brought support from individuals seeing the importance of this work in solving the mystery of salmon migration.

Where are the results of ASF's tracking research published?

The Atlantic Salmon Federation publishes in a variety of popular magazines and peer-reviewed articles in scientific publications, including the ICES Journal of Marine Science.

Who is the Atlantic Salmon Federation

The Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) is an international non-profit organization devoted to the conservation of the wild Atlantic salmon in North America and beyond. It bases its advice to government on solid scientific research, and undertakes extensive research itself, as well as environmental monitoring and other matters affecting the wild Atlantic salmon.

Atlantic Salmon Federation

P. O. Box 5200, St. Andrews, NB E5B 3S8

or

P. O. Box 807, Calais, ME USA 04619–0807

Tel: (506) 529–4581 www.asf.ca

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