Showing papers by "Atlantic Salmon Federation published in 2007"

Closing the North American Mixed‐Stock Commercial Fishery for Wild Atlantic Salmon

Abstract: From the beginning of human habitation in North America the wild Atlantic salmon has been a significant element of the social and cultural identity of Aboriginal people and the non-Aboriginal people that followed. Salmon were harvested in rivers and estuaries providing an important annual supplement to the food supply, which was recognized by Aboriginal people in ceremonial practices, and celebrated by everyone.

Finding Resolution to Farmed Salmon Issues in Eastern North America

Abstract: As a result of pressures in both freshwater and marine environments, the number of wild Atlantic salmon returning to North American river’s declined from 1.5 million in 1975 to 350,000 in 2000. The situation is particularly acute in Canada’s Bay of Fundy and Downeast Maine, where many of the populations now number fewer than 100 adult fish. Aquaculture, once thought to be the saving grace of declining salmon populations, is now accused of being a significant threat to the restoration of wild salmon stocks in eastern North America. The industry’s exponential growth has resulted in a dense array of coastal farms many of which are in close proximity to the wild salmon rivers. The growing pains of this relatively young industry have included large, documented escapes and disease outbreaks. Given the current vulnerable state of the wild salmon stocks, the potential risk of genetic dilution and disease transmission from farmed fish is a serious concern to the regulators and environmental community. Today competing mandates between governmental agencies and friction between the federal and local jurisdictions are clouding proper regulatory oversight of the salmon farming industry. This air of uncertainty, frustrating to the industry and to the environmental groups alike, has forged partnerships between these two groups so often at Page 1 Finding Resolution to Farmed Salmon Issues in eastern North America Overview from Atlantic Salmon Federation P. O. Box 5200, St. Andrews, NB E5B 3S8 P. O. Box 807, Calais, ME USA 04619–0807 Tel: (506) 529–4581 www.asf.ca Finding Resolution to Farmed Salmon Issues in eastern North America by Andrew Goode, Vice President US Programs and Dr. Fred Whoriskey Jr.,, Vice President Research & Environment Atlantic Salmon Federation In the past 20 years aquaculture has grown exponentially in Canada’s Bay of Fundy and Downeast Maine. odds with each other in the past. Direct talks between salmon farmers and the environmental community have led to cooperation agreements on common areas of interest such as fish containment and disease. This collaborative approach has yielded more progress in the past year than previously attempted regulatory solutions. At the same time, outstanding issues remain. The industry wants to continue its use of European strains. Environmental groups like the Atlantic Salmon Federation want comprehensive bay management plans including the use of exclusion zones near critical salmon rivers. The ability of these groups to resolve these problems and to gain acceptance in the regulatory arena will require additional sacrifices. The salmon farmers must continue moving towards greater public accountability while the environmental groups need to rely on the best science available to base their policy. Ultimately, a coherent, regulatory structure based on a model of collaborative resolution may well be the only way to safeguard and possibly restore the beleaguered Atlantic salmon stocks of Maine and southern Canada. STATUS OF ATLANTIC SALMON IN NORTH AMERICA