Regulatory Measures

Under the NASCO Convention one of the functions of the three regional Commissions is to propose regulatory measures for fishing in the area of fisheries jurisdiction of a member of salmon originating in the rivers of other Parties. During the period covered by this report, such fishing has been regulated by NASCO for the West Greenland and Faroese salmon fisheries.

The West Greenland Commission

Under a regulatory measure agreed by the Commission for 1999 and 2000, the catch at West Greenland in each of these years was restricted to that amount used for internal consumption in Greenland, which in the past has been estimated at 20 tonnes. Commercial export of salmon was not permitted under this measure. The restriction of the quota to the amount used for internal consumption took into account the advice from ICES that:

- stocks originating in the southern component of the North-East Atlantic were considered to be outside safe biological limits, and that extreme caution should be exercised in the management of mixed stock fisheries exploiting these stocks;

- stocks originating in North America were outside safe biological limits. Fishing mortality of multi-sea-winter fish should be minimised, except for in-river harvests from those stocks which are above biologically-based escapement requirements.

The catch at West Greenland in 2000 under this regulatory measure was 21 tonnes.

Under a Resolution regarding the Fishing of Salmon at West Greenland, the Parties resolved to maintain the spirit embodied in previous agreements within the West Greenland Commission and agreed that, unless a significant improvement was demonstrated in the condition of stocks available to the West Greenland fishery, the catch at West Greenland in 2001 would be restricted to the lowest possible level.

For the 2001 fishery at West Greenland the Commission adopted an ad hoc management programme. This is an innovative measure which will utilize data collected during the course of the fishing season and which will be implemented as follows:

- three harvest periods will be established which will be separated by two-day closures to allow for estimation of catch per unit effort (CPUE) statistics and communication of management actions;

- the first harvest period will start no sooner than 13 August and will remain open for seven days, or until 28 tonnes of salmon are taken in the commercial fishery, whichever comes first;

- if average CPUE is high (>135kg/licence/day) in the first period, the second opening will occur. This fishery will close after either 12 days or an additional 64 tonnes are taken, whichever comes first. If average CPUE in the first period is medium (100-135kg/licence/day) an additional 12-day 32-tonne fishery will open. If the average CPUE in the first period is low (<100kg/licence/day) no second opening will occur;

- if the combined average CPUE for the first and second openings is high, a third opening will occur, beginning two days after the second period concludes. This fishery will close after either an additional 26 days or an additional 108 tonnes are taken, whichever comes first. If the average in the first and second periods is medium, an additional 26-day 54-tonne fishery will be allowed, but if the average CPUE is low there will be no additional opening.

The maximum quota for the fishery as a whole will depend on the observed average CPUE, but will be between 28 and 200 tonnes. For the first time, NASCO will have a management measure which responds in real time to the abundance of the salmon.

The North-East Atlantic Commission

Under a regulatory measure established by the Commission in 1999, the total nominal catch for the Faroese fishery in 2000 was set at 300 tonnes. However, the Faroese Home Government indicated that if licences were issued to fish for salmon, no more than 260 tonnes would be allocated. Additional measures required that areas with salmon below 60cm in length be closed to salmon fishing at short notice; that the number of boats licensed for salmon be limited to 8; that the salmon fishing season be limited to 120 days between 20 January and 30 April and 1 November and 20 December; and that subject to the maximum annual catch the total allowable number of fishing vessel days be set at 800.

There was no fishery for salmon at the Faroes in 1999, but in 2000 a commercial fishery resumed with a total catch of 8 tonnes.

For the fishery at Faroes in 2001 and 2002, the Commission adopted decisions under which no quota was set for the fishery in the light of the Faroese Home Government's intention to manage the fishery in a precautionary manner with a view to sustainability, and to make management decisions with due consideration to the advice from ICES concerning the biological status of the stocks contributing to the fishery.

No fishing for salmon was conducted by Faroese fishermen during the 2000/2001 fishing season (i.e. November 2000 - April 2001).

Application of the Precautionary Approach

Each of the Commissions reviewed the initial steps taken by the Contracting Parties to apply the decision structure for application of the Precautionary Approach to the management of North Atlantic salmon fisheries. A detailed evaluation of the decision structure will be undertaken in 2002.

Salmonid Introductions and Transfers

The North American Commission and the North-East Atlantic Commission reviewed known introductions and transfers in relation to their agreements on this issue. These compilations are proving very useful in monitoring movements of salmonids and the risks involved to the wild stocks from these movements. The dangers to the wild stocks have been highlighted by the damage caused by the parasite Gyrodactylus salaris in Norway. This parasite has been recorded in 41 watercourses in Norway and in these rivers the wild salmon stocks are threatened with loss. Twenty-five watercourses have been treated and, of these, the parasite has been eradicated from fourteen, but in eight of the treated rivers the parasite has survived. Gyrodactylus salaris has also been reported in rivers in Karelia, Russia, and the west coast of Sweden. The Council has agreed that it will review application of the Precautionary Approach to introductions and transfers, aquaculture and transgenics prior to its meeting in 2003.

Acid Rain

The North American Commission reviewed information arising from a Canadian workshop on the effects of acid rain on Atlantic salmon of the Southern Upland of Nova Scotia. Natural reproducing salmon are no longer present in many of the region's 65 rivers due to acid toxicity and low marine survival. Significant reductions in toxicity are not anticipated in the near future and further declines in salmon production and losses of stocks are expected. The report recommended a further 75% reduction in sulphur dioxide emissions in eastern Canada and the USA, and identified management options as: liming to neutralize river acidity, stocking of hatchery fish, live gene banking and further restrictions on exploitation. The Commission agreed to investigate the possibility of contacting the Committee on Environmental Cooperation of the North American Free Trade Agreement regarding the potential for acid rain to impact Atlantic salmon.

Sampling

Robust sampling at West Greenland and in Labrador is of critical importance for the functioning of the scientific model that predicts pre-fishery abundance for the West Greenland fishery, and to science-based management decisions for this fishery. Canada is committed to increased sampling at Labrador in 2001 and 2002.

A bilateral agreement between Canada and Denmark applied to sampling at West Greenland in 1999 and 2000 and the USA also contributed to this programme. Agreement has been reached which commits all members of the West Greenland Commission to a cooperative sampling programme at West Greenland during the 2001 fishery.