Fish Migration 5th International Rhine Symposium Beethovenhalle Bonn 2-4 November 2005 Orri Vigfússon, Chairman, North Atlantic Salmon Fund
The Rhine Not so long ago, the European rivers were teeming with Atlantic Salmon and the Rhine was the salmon s greatest river We at NASF belive we can return most salmon rivers to near historic abundance through common sense and knowledge we already possess
Number of fish ( millions ) 4.5 4 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 World Wide Atlantic Salmon Catches Total reported catches, including stocked and escaped salmon 4.0 3.4 2.6 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2004 Years 1.6 1.1 Crude estimate of escapees and stocked salmon 0.9 0.7 Source: ICES Published statistics NASF estimates of the proportion of wild fish vs. escapees and stocked salmon
Management systems in fisheries: Biological measures Gear size restrictions Time / area closures TACs Economic restrictions Investment limitations Effort limitations Acess licences Property Rights arrangements IQs ITQs Only Property Rights arrangements have worked.
Inter- governmental solutions have not worked for salmon because they Treat the salmon as a common property Fail to address the full life cycle of the salmon Divide stakeholders and provide them with no real incentive Reject solutions that bring about conservation by using economic incentives. Too much emphasis on biological research Rely on spawning escapement theories
Commercial agreements work because they Make full use of property rights and offer incentives for users to make improvements. Make use of economic incentives to bring about conservation Are respected by the commercial stakeholders. Apply business solutions by the exchange of resources. Allow the profit motive to maximize efficiency and minimize waste. Have no place for unproven theories Unite stakeholders, create a healthy diversity of opportunities to use the resource and provide a strong incentive to succeed.
Commercial Salmon Agreements Inspired by NASF principles and policy 1989 The launch of NASF through Quota Purchase Committee 1990 First White river region Set-aside Agreement 1991 NASF First NE Atlantic Salmon Quota Purchase Agreement 1992 Canadian Government 90-million dollar Purchase Agreement 1993 NASF West Greenland Salmon Quota Puchase Agreement- 1994 NASF Partners stop Pirate Fisheries 1995 NASF Second NE Atlantic Salmon Agreement 1996 NASF launches Greenland Development projects 1997 NASF completes Moratorium Agreement in Icelandic waters 1997 CG64-AIDSA/NASF Adour River Moratorium Set-Aside Agreement 2000 NASF-Wye/USK Coalition Agreement buy out Wales driftnets 2001 NASF-MSF Agreements buy out Agreements in SW England 2002 NASF-KNAPK West Greenland 5-year Moratorium Agreement 2003 NASF Northern Ireland Conservany Salmon Agreement 03/04 NASF North Sea Agreement in North East England 2005 NASF Targets Norway s Pilot Buyout Project in Trondheim
Mixed stock fisheries
NASF - Story of Promise 5th International Rhine Symposium
The case of Ireland Tourist Angling in Ireland Number of tourists ( 000 ) 250 200 150 100 50 Ireland asks for IRL 19 million of EU Tourism Operational Programmes Ireland receives grant and sets target of 264.000 angling tourists by 2002 and promises 2000 new jobs in angling communities Government target for 2002 Target not reached. Many jobs lost. Loss of voluntary labour. Private sector clubs lose 30% of their fisheries to authorities. 0 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Years Source: NASF document based upon Bord Failte statistics
The case of the model river of Iceland No taxpayer s money River Selá salmon catches for 1998-2005 compared with past 10 year averages River Selá salmon catches for 1991-2005 compared with past averages 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 0 Getting priorities right Getting priorities right - Net - Net buyout buyout - Efficient fish pass - Strict exploitation limits - Efficient fish pass - Strict exploitation limits 1931-1940 1941-1950 1951-1960 1961-1970 1971-1980 1981-1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
How EU Salmon biomass is created
Future of salmon farming Dont go too close You never know what You might catch!
River MODEL Selá salmon NASF catches RIVER-WILD for 1991-2005 SALMON MODEL NASF RIVER-WILD SALMON compared Conclusion with past averages 2,500 Getting priorities right 2,000 - Net NASF buyout Model river- wild salmon 1,500 1,000 500 0 4500 4000 3500 - Efficient fish pass - Strict exploitation limits 1931-1940 1941-1950 1951-1960 1961-1970 1971-1980 1981-1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 MODEL NASF RIVER-WILD SALMON River Tyne - Stocked River 3000 Declared catches 2500 2000 1500 Total Salmon catches 1000 500 0