February 20, 2008
St. John's, NL The Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today
announced that Canada will provide an in-kind contribution of $800,000 this year
to the Salmon At Sea science program that is managed by the North Atlantic
Salmon Conservation Organization.
"I'm proud that Canada is making such a significant contribution to international
scientific research in this area," said Minister Hearn. "We need to help identify
the factors that cause Atlantic salmon to die when they migrate through ocean waters
so we can put the necessary measures in place to reduce at-sea mortality of future
stocks."
Canada's contribution to the Salmon At Sea program constitutes 23
days of ship time for scientists to collect data on Atlantic salmon at-sea mortality.
Costs for ship time total approximately $500,000 and another $300,000 will be
spent for the associated personnel, equipment and logistics. Data collected
by scientists will be analyzed and tabulated within a research survey. The information
will be used to improve understanding of the lifecycle of Atlantic salmon while
it is at sea. Canada has important interests in better understanding salmon
behaviour so we can better focus our activities in the future.
The lifecycle of Atlantic salmon involves major migrations between spawning
rivers and oceanic feeding grounds. Many North Atlantic salmon originating from
the rivers of Canada, the United States and countries across Europe, for example,
migrate to feed in waters off West Greenland before returning to spawn in their
rivers of origin.
Partners in the Atlantic salmon at-sea mortality research survey include
scientists and officials from three regional offices of Fisheries and Oceans
Canada, the Province of Quebec, the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service,
and the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization. The Atlantic Salmon
Federation in Canada is also engaged in a number of ongoing efforts in this
area.
For more information: www.overfishing.gc.ca
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Phil Jenkins
Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa
613-990-7537
Joshua Zanin
Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa, 613-992-3474
