For over a decade, in order to counter a widespread decline in wild Atlantic salmon stocks, the North Atlantic Salmon Fund (NASF) has pioneered environmental agreements that are based on commercial principles. These agreements depend on the voluntary co-operation of commercial salmon fishermen.
They agree to stop fishing in return for fair financial compensation and the introduction of new types of employment in the form of new and sustainable sea fisheries or as workers in a revived angling tourism industry. These measures have provided real support for wild salmon stocks on both sides of the Atlantic.
NASF teams in a number of countries have not only taken the lead in developing an acceptable conservation philosophy and effective policies. They have worked in the field to turn their conservation plans into working agreements with the stakeholders.
NASF was initially driven by the urgency to provide safety for the salmon while the fish were on their high seas feeding grounds off Greenland, Iceland and Faroe Islands. This led to the first commercial agreements with long-liners in the Faroe Islands and netsmen in Greenland. The Canadian Government, at great expense to itself, followed these same principles by financing similar agreements with its fishermen in the coastal waters of their eastern seaboard.
The second phase of NASF’s plan resulted in the completion of agreements in Iceland, Wales, South West England, the North Sea and in the Northern Ireland Conservancy area.
These agreements have stopped the decline in wild salmon stocks and we are beginning to see improvements in a number of regions, particularly in the reappearance of the bigger salmon that after more than one winter’s feeding in the sea return to spawn with the largest numbers of eggs. “The agreements that have been reached so far have already boosted salmon runs in our rivers,” said Throstur Ellidason, CEO of Angling Service Strengir, “We are pleased to make substantial contributions to these projects and our angling guests are reaping the benefit with higher catch returns.”
“We have come a long way already and we can be proud of what we have achieved” said Orri Vigf
