Executive Summary:
Wild Salmon Unlimited is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is: to fund the restoration of wild Atlantic salmon to their native Nova Scotia rivers. We do this in partnership with universities, river associations, governments, First Nations and other like-minded nongovernment organizations (NGOs). Basically, we want to see salmon put back in rivers, and contribute to their conservation and protection. By doing so we’ll help them be, once again, a significant contributor to the economic benefits of our rural communities. Although a relatively new organization we’ve received considerable support for our mission from: First Nations, all levels of government, corporations and NGOs.
Conservation is and will always be a vital component of salmon management but, unfortunately, despite our best efforts we are losing ground. Our methodologies have to change dramatically to address the challenges of our current world. Climate change, open pen aquaculture, ocean mortality and other effects of human activity, both legal and otherwise, are obvious examples. For too long we’ve ignored the fact we need to supplement our efforts with new methods that include the use of hatchery reared wild Atlantic salmon. If we don’t, in the not too distant future, there’ll be no wild Atlantic salmon to conserve. “Smart Stocking”, which involves the use of re-conditioned kelts and conditioned smolts is a process that should be more widespread.
Enforcement In the enforcement area much work must be done to enlighten our governments to the need for increased funding. More collaboration, coordination and cooperation is needed amongst agencies responsible for the protection of our species, in this case wild Atlantic salmon.
Predation has been with us since the big bang and will be forever. We ourselves are predators and compete with all other predator species for diminishing resources. We’ve long ago intervened, perhaps recklessly, in our attempts to manage this natural process. Somehow we’ve got to re-think how we can control one species for the benefit of others and sell this to a skeptical world. Our re-intervention must be well planned and communicated. For example “how do you control mergansers?” Do you issue guns to kill them or step ladders to destroy their eggs? How will ornithologists or birders react? How about the family canoeing down the 3 river witnessing birds being shot? Although we all might feel it necessary we’ve got to think about it careful. The use of re-conditioned smolts, released to rivers at optimal times, somewhat reduces, the impact of predation.
The international unsustainable fishing for wild Atlantic salmon is a huge challenge and must be addressed by the highest levels of our Federal government and the governments of offending nation states. If they are not already, attempts must be made to focus the attention of offending nations away from harvesting wild Atlantic salmon that originate in North American rivers. Efforts to reduce the commercial catch must continue and perhaps those nations should be encouraged to use trap nets, if they’re not already doing so, begin hatchery programs and introduce land based aquaculture if feasible.
Focused areas for advancing science. Like all aspects of life, science is paramount. Universities, and DFO in collaboration with NGOs, like WSU for example, should be encouraged to investigate methods of improving hatchery environments in order to increase their efficiency. Research into new methods of rearing wild Atlantic salmon should be explored. An example is the Joint project on Fundy National Park Rivers involving DFO, Cook Aquaculture and Parks Canada. Efforts must be increased to investigate and address ocean mortality. All of the challenges we face with respect to the decline of wild Atlantic salmon cannot be fixed without a significant funding commitment from all areas of government. Volunteer organizations cannot continue to carry the heavy load. However, we at Wild Salmon Unlimited will do our share and, although I’m not speaking for them, I’m sure ASF, its affiliates and other like-minded organizations will continue their efforts.
Anonymous: “If you always do what you always did then you always get what you always got”