Open letter to the Norwegian Govt.

There is no shortage of causes for the decline of salmon in Norway. All along the Norwegian coastline genuine wild salmon stocks are declining or disappearing from more and more rivers. The Norwegian authorities have failed in their duty to take adequate measures to restore the country’s salmon rivers during the last two decades. As far as salmon are concerned, recognition of the need for conservation, sustainability and international responsibility is signally lacking in Norway’s management policies.

Norway has become the world´s most dangerous place for the Atlantic salmon. Regulations proposed by the Directorate of Nature Management (DN) for 2008 – 2012 go against international scientific advice as adopted by the Storting and they violate Norway´s obligations under article 66 of the Law of the Sea. The Directorate continues to support interceptory mixed stock netting of salmon that are native to Russia, Finland, Sweden and other nations. This reckless approach to the management of a threatened natural resource creates a dangerous international situation.

Why should Norway be the only Atlantic salmon nation to ignore the need to protect the surviving wild stocks in order to allow them to restore their rivers to a healthy abundance? This is now a priority in every other salmon country on both sides of the Atlantic. Commercial agreements that give salmon netsmen generous compensation in lieu of their fishing privileges have been implemented in most other salmon countries on both sides of the Atlantic.

Independent scientists have confirmed that a pilot scheme in the Trondheim fjord, where netsmen receive fair compensation for agreeing to stop salmon fishing, has already proved to be a groundbreaking success. In all those deals, First Nation rights are fully recognised and respected as the resource itself is more important than any self-interest. Human rights, elements of competition law and any other issue of concern, all fully addressed.

Norway´s management regime has also failed to deal with the negative effects of fish farming, gyrodactylus and most other problems facing river management. We urge the Norwegian Government to think again and instruct the Directorate to modernise its policies to meet 21st Century demands and new challenges including climate change. The Directorate must get its act in order, make substantial improvements to the conservation elements in its proposals and move fast before it is too late. Overall, we call for a national salmon policy in Norway to restore her native salmon stocks.

Orri Vigfússon, Chairman, The North Atlantic Salmon Fund (NASF)
Bill,Taylor, President, The Atlantic Salmon Federation
Ilya Sherbovich, Ponoi River Company (Russia)
Peter C. Power, Founder of the Atlantic Salmon Reserve and Advisor to the Governor, Kola Region, R.
Casper Moltke, Chairman, Dansk laksefond
Delfin Puente, President of The Real Asociacion Asturiana de Pesca
Javier Loring Armada, NASF ( Spain)
Marc Adrien Marcellier, NASF (France)
Kurt Pilchowski, Chairman, Lachs- un Meerforellen- Sozietät e.V. Germany
Vladimír Zeman, Chairman Ichtys Bohemica, o.s. Check Republic
Martin Peter, Chairman, NASF (Switzerland)
John Carroll, Chairman, FISSTA. Irish Salmon & Sea Trout Anglers
Jim Haughey, Chairman, NASF (Northern Ireland)
Hartmut Kloss, NASF (Germany)
Peter Mohnert, Chair., Verband Deutscher Sportfischer and Pres. of the European Angler´s Alliance.
Tim Goode, NASF (UK)

Key background notes:

· Sixteen leading international organisations call for a national salmon policy in Norway.

· Norwegian authorities have failed in their duty to protect wild Atlantic salmon.

· Lowest Norwegian salmon catch records in history

· The Directorate of Nature Management (DN) goes against ICES scientific advice.

· Norway violates article 66 of the Law of the Sea and create dangerous international situations.

Posted on Thursday, February 14, 2008 (Archive on Thursday, February 21, 2008)
Posted by host Contributed by host

Return

MyFlyBox will help you to express yourself, catch up with friends and make new ones, but please do remember that what you post publicly can be read by anyone viewing your profile, so please follow the guidelines below when using MyFlyBox:-

Don't forget that your profile, like all the others, is on public display.
Don't post anything you don’t want seen (e.g., phone numbers, address, IM address, or your location).
Don't post anything that could embarrass you later.
Don’t post anything that makes it easy for strangers to find you (e.g. location of home, cafes, clubs etc)
People aren't always who they say they are.
Be careful about adding people you don’t actually know to your friends list.
It's great to make new MyFlyBox friends from all over, but avoid actually meeting people whom you do not already know.
If you decide to meet someone you’ve engaged with on MyFlyBox, tell your parents or relatives first, meet in a public place and bring a trusted adult friend with you.
It's easy to think that only people you know are looking at your MyFlyBox page, but remember that everyone can see it.
Think very carefully before you post a photo or information you wouldn't want others to see.
Harassment, inappropriate speech and inappropriate content must be reported. If you feel someone's behaviour is not appropriate, do something. Talk with a trusted adult, or report it to MyFlyBox or to the relevant authorities.

Click here to create your MyFlyBox Profile and get started!

| | | | |