International management of Atlantic salmon — the role of NASCO

Abstract

This paper describes the Convention for the Conservation of Salmon in the North Atlantic Ocean. The Convention established a new international organisation, the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO), with the objective of contributing to the conservation, restoration, enhancement and rational management of salmon stocks. Every North Atlantic nation with Atlantic salmon interests is a member of the organisation and international cooperation on management of the resource now exists. Progress in the first six years of NASCO's existence is summarised. Fishing of Salmon beyond areas of fisheries' jurisdiction of coastal states is prohibited by the Convention. Within areas of fisheries' jurisdiction, fishing of salmon is prohibited beyond 12 nautical miles, except in the West Greenland Commission (up to 40 nautical miles) and in the North-East Atlantic Commission (within the area of fisheries jurisdiction of the Faroe Islands). Following detailed negotiations, regulatory measures have been adopted in all three regional Commissions and these measures are described. Recent agreements on regulatory measures have adopted a more long-term approach than had previously been possible. In addition, the NASCO Convention has stimulated scientific research, exchange of information on laws, regulations and programmes, analysis of catch statistics, and reviews of salmon tagging programmes and the possible threat to wild stocks from the rapidly developing salmon aquaculture industry. Recognising the serious nature of some of the threats to wild stocks from the salmon aquaculture industry, the Council has agreed on a number of courses of action, including the consideration of an internationally agreed code of practice or recommendations to minimise the impacts of aquaculture on wild stocks. The Atlantic salmon is now one of the few species having its own international treaty. International cooperation in the first few years of the new organisation augurs well for the future conservation and rational management of this prized and valuable resource.