The well known campaigner Mr Orri Vigfusson has written to the Norwegian government,following support from virtually all recognised globally conservation minded bodies and trusts doing everything to safe guard the Atlantic Salmon future.I am posting it here for readers interest.The contents of which do not neccesarily represent the views of the river board and are merely for the readerships attention
OPEN LETTER TO THE NORWEGIAN GOVERNMENT
NORWAY IS MISSING FROM THE LIST OF RESPONSIBLE SALMON NATIONS
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 Norways 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 Power, Northern Rivers, Kola region, Russia
Peter Mohnert, Chairman, Verband Deutscher Sportfischer and President of the
European Angler´s Alliance .
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)
Tim Goode, NASF (UK)
Kurt Pilchowski, Chairman, Lachs- un Meerforellen- Sozietät e.V. Germany
Valdimir Zeman, Ichtys Bohemica, o.s. CheckRepublic
Martin Peter, Chairman, NASF ( Switzerland )
John Carroll, Chairman, FISSTA. Irish Salmon & Sea Trout Anglers
Jim Haughey, Chairman, NASF (Northern Ireland)
Hartmut Kloss, NASF (Germany).
Ken Reid-DFDO (22-Mar-2008)
