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Angling Publications - Index

Angling Publications - april2008 - Index

Founded in 1948 by individuals who
were committed to the environment, this
year the Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF)
is celebrating its 60 th anniversary. The years
have been fraught with struggle to help wild
Atlantic salmon migrate to ocean feeding
grounds and return to spawn. They have
also been full of victories that have removed
commercial nets and dams and helped people
make the right environmental decisions.
One of the most exciting milestones during
the past sixty years has been our Conservation
Agreement with Greenland fishermen
in 2002 that brought the commercial fishery
for Atlantic salmon to an end for five years,
which was renewed in 2007 for another seven
years. This agreement has allowed many large
Atlantic salmon to spend two years on feeding
grounds off Greenland, unhindered by commercial
nets, and return to North American
rivers to spawn.
While commercial fisheries are no longer a
threat to North American salmon, too many
are killed in the recreational fishery. ASF’s
programs promote the release of both grilse
and salmon, and reward anglers and camps
that practice and encourage catch-and-release
sport fishing. In eastern Canada, 30 outfitters
and private camps have been recognized as
part of our Live Release Rewards and Recognition
Program.
Another lasting milestone was the development
in 1992 of Fish Friends, which began as
part of ASF’s government-funded, five-year,
$5.7 million public awareness and education
program for Atlantic Canada. It was so popular
that ASF strove to keep the program alive
when government funding ran out. Because
of the interest and enthusiasm of the private
sector, Fish Friends has not only survived,
but also flourished, and has expanded from
Atlantic Canada into Quebec and New England
to include 600 schools.
ASF has spearheaded the development
and implementation of technology that allows
tracking of salmon at sea, and is now
used by others throughout the world. ASF’s
marine research delves into the causes of high
mortality of smolt during their migration to
the ocean to better guide conservation and
management decisions.
We have tracked smolt to a new frontier,
the Strait of Belle Isle, which is the northern
migration exit out of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Our research was instrumental in convincing
Canada to provide funding to Dalhousie
In eastern Canada, 30 outfitters
and private camps have been
recognized as part of the Live
Release Rewards and Recognition
Program. Two lucky anglers at
one such camp—Flowers River
Lodge in Labrador—set world
records in 2007 with these hefty
Atlantic salmon (right and left).
University to implement an ocean tracking
network that will provide detailed tracking
information on many different species. This
network gives us the potential to track salmon
all the way to Greenland.
Partnerships in Maine of which ASF is
a member have been particularly successful
in river restoration through dam removal.
Ten years ago, government approved the
removal of the Edwards Dam on the Kennebec
River, allowing Atlantic salmon, striped
bass, alewives and other native sea-run fish to
flourish in the 17 miles of habitat restored.
A coalition of conservation organizations
and the Penobscot Indian Nation have successfully
spent the past few years gathering
the political will and acquiring funding to
buy three dams on the lower Penobscot. We
are now very close to exercising the purchase
option, which brings the removal of two dams
and decommissioning of a third within our
grasp. This will eventually open up nearly
1,000 miles of habitat to restore wild Atlantic
salmon and ten other species of sea-run fish
to the Penobscot, the second largest river in
New England.
So many milestones and so much work
have managed to keep wild Atlantic salmon
on this earth, but conservation is a constant
struggle. While ASF and our Regional
Councils have reached major conservation
milestones and agreements that helped increase
salmon numbers between 2002 and
2006, nature was not as cooperative in 2007.
Atlantic salmon runs decreased on many
rivers. We are hopeful that 2007 was just a
dip in what has otherwise been an upwardtrending
cycle.
The philosophy of conservation has
evolved since a small group of influential
anglers in Montreal were intent on protecting
one species. Over the years, saving wild
Atlantic salmon and their habitat has become
more challenging. Since wild Atlantic salmon
are part of many ecosystems, saving them has
been complex and sometimes controversial.
Today, sixty years later, ASF is celebrating
with those interested in saving the ecosystems
that we share with wild Atlantic salmon. It’s
complicated, but it’s so worthwhile.
Sue Scott is VP of Communications for the
Atlantic Salmon Federation (www.asf.ca)
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