NR-HQ-00-28E

Dhaliwal confirms Canada's commitment to the Conservation of Atlantic Salmon

June 7, 2000

Miramichi, N.B. – In a keynote speech delivered to the international delegates of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO) on Wednesday, June 7, Canada’s Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, the Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, reconfirmed Canada’s commitment to the conservation of Atlantic salmon.

During his speech, the Minister pointed out that when salmon returns began decreasing in the Miramichi, one of the largest salmon rivers in the North Atlantic, Canada acted to ensure conservation.

"We invested a total of $80 million for closing fisheries and compensating commercial licence holders throughout eastern Canada. We introduced salmon tagging as well as hook and release angling of large spawners.

"We did this together with commercial fishermen, community groups, outfitters, loggers, Aboriginal groups, scientists, fishery managers and enforcement officers. We worked with major salmon conservation organizations like the Atlantic Salmon Federation and grassroots volunteers to help safeguard the resource."

Still, the Minister indicated that the numbers of salmon returning from the ocean are low, leaving the more general outlook for Atlantic salmon quite bleak. He stressed that greater effort is required to ensure the sustainability of the resource. "Together, we need to work harder than ever to build a North Atlantic salmon fishery that is anchored in sustainability."

Minister Dhaliwal indicated that Fisheries and Oceans Canada is working with partner organizations, such as the Atlantic Salmon Federation, and convening a special international workshop in Halifax, from June 12 to 14, to better understand why the salmon are not returning from the ocean.

"There is so much we are discovering about what determines the health of Atlantic salmon: the effect of water temperature and changes to habitat, the role of climate change, new fishing methods, pollution, environmental degradation, acid rain, predation and escapements of farmed salmon. We need more information to find out why the salmon are not returning from the ocean.

"A partnership project undertaken in 1999 between Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Atlantic Salmon Federation used transmitters to track sea-bound smolts. I want to congratulate the Atlantic Salmon Federation for their cooperation and work on this innovative technology. This is an example of the kind of collaboration and leading edge research we need to help pinpoint exactly what happens to the fish when they leave the river.

"Continued progress will require a lot more hard work, innovation and widespread collaboration and consultation in our research efforts. That’s why Fisheries and Oceans Canada is organizing a special workshop at Dalhousie University in Halifax after this meeting. Many scientists from around the world will meet to study salmon mortality at sea and to discuss proposals for further research."

The Minister praised the work of NASCO and reconfirmed Canada’s commitment to the conservation of Atlantic salmon.

"NASCO has come a long way since it was created to protect wild salmon stocks almost twenty years ago. Confronted by the critical state of those stocks throughout the North Atlantic, we joined forces and have been able to prohibit most salmon fishing in the high seas.

"Last year, NASCO became the first international fisheries management commission to officially adopt the precautionary approach. We need to continue building on this plan to give long-term protection to wild salmon.

"In the end, no matter where we live, we all want the same things: a sustainable resource that helps provide long-term economic security and enjoyment. Together we must show leadership – in both resource development and conservation of the oceans environment that we all share.

"Atlantic salmon is an internationally shared resource, and Canada is committed to doing its part to help conserve it."