RESOLUTION BY THE PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION FOR THE CONSERVATION OF SALMON IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN CONCERNING SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH FISHING

The PARTIES,

NOTING the provisions of the Convention for the Conservation of Salmon in the North Atlantic Ocean of 2 March 1982 (the "Convention") which seeks to promote the conservation, restoration, enhancement and rational management of salmon stocks;

NOTING that under Article 2 of the Convention fishing of salmon is prohibited beyond areas of fisheries jurisdiction and within areas of fisheries jurisdiction beyond 12 nautical miles except in the West Greenland Commission area (up to 40 nautical miles) and in the North-East Atlantic (within the area of fisheries jurisdiction of the Faroe Islands);

NOTING that under Article 4 of the Convention the Council shall make recommendations to the Parties, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea and other appropriate fisheries and scientific organizations concerning the undertaking of scientific research;

DESIRING to promote the acquisition, analysis and dissemination of scientific information pertaining to salmon stocks in the North Atlantic Ocean;

DESIRING to cooperate on scientific research fishing for Atlantic salmon that is consistent with the objectives of the Convention;

RECOGNISING the possible benefits to rational management of salmon stocks from scientific research fishing in the sea;

RESOLVE as follows:

Scientific research fishing in areas where salmon fishing is prohibited by the Convention may be undertaken by the Parties subject to the conditions detailed in the Annex to this Resolution.

In areas of fisheries jurisdiction where salmon fishing is subject to an allowable catch as part of a regulatory measure adopted by NASCO and where the catch from scientific research fishing will not be allocated as part of the allowable catch under the regulatory measure the Annex shall also apply.

                                              ANNEX

1.  Any Party or Parties wishing to undertake scientific research fishing for Atlantic salmon in accordance with this Resolution shall deliver a proposal to the Secretary no less than 45 days before it wishes to commence fishing.

The proposal should, whenever possible, include details of:

a)  the purpose of the research fishing

b)  the dates during which the research fishing will take place

c)  the area in which the research fishing will take place

d)  the name, registration, call sign and a description of any participating vessels

e)  the type and amount of gear to be used

f)  the estimated total weight and numbers of salmon to be retained

The Secretary shall immediately transmit copies of the proposal to all Parties. 

2.  The results of this scientific research fishing shall be made available to the Council of NASCO and to ICES as soon as practicable, including details of any catches.

3.  Atlantic salmon caught during scientific research fishing in accordance with this Resolution shall only be retained for scientific research.

4.  Where the planned research is outside areas of fisheries jurisdiction a Party may object to the proposal by informing the Secretary within 30 days of the date of the Secretary's notification giving reasons for the objection.  In the event of an objection being received by the Secretary the research programme shall not be implemented pending a decision by the Council, based upon a review of the scientific merits of such research.

This Resolution concerning Scientific Research Fishing was adopted by the Council in November 1996.