June 6, 2015
Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador -- The thirty-second annual meeting of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO) wrapped up June 5 in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador. From June 2-5, delegates from all NASCO member countries participated in science and regulatory discussions regarding the conservation, restoration, enhancement and rational management of salmon stocks in the North Atlantic Ocean.
NASCO member countries and their delegations were welcomed into the Happy Valley-Goose Bay community where they had a chance to witness first-hand the important partnership role that the community and Aboriginal organizations play in the management of Atlantic salmon. At the meeting, Canada highlighted the importance of subsistence fisheries and the need to work collaboratively to conserve salmon in the North Atlantic. Federal initiatives that contribute to salmon conservation such as the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program (RFCPP), created to help restore Canada’s recreational fish habitat and the recently created Ministerial Advisory Committee on Atlantic Salmon, were also discussed.
A key topic of discussion at the meeting was the increasing removals of wild Atlantic salmon off West Greenland, which Canada feels must be reduced to a level that supports salmon conservation. Canada worked with NASCO counterparts to develop a new regulatory measure for the Greenland Atlantic salmon fishery. Greenland has committed to the implementation of strict fishery management and control measures but has unilaterally established an unsustainable quota of 45 tonnes for the next three years.
While Canada is disappointed with this quota, we are pleased that Greenland has committed to applying strong monitoring, control and surveillance measures. Additionally, Canada will work through NASCO to ensure the effective implementation of these new measures and advocate for harvest levels more in line with the science advice.
Canada will continue to work with NASCO members on science programs such as the Labrador and West Greenland fishery sampling programs.
The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Frank Stanek
Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-990-7537
Sophie Doucet
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613-992-3474
NR-HQ-15-33E
