Publisert: 14.02.08

- Direktoratet for naturforvaltning har gitt blaffen i å lytte til internasjonale råd og bryter loven ved fortsatt å tillate sjøfiske på blandede bestander av atlantisk laks som hører hjemme i bl.a. russiske og finske elver. I et åpent brev til det norske storting fastslår 16 ledende internasjonale organisasjoner at norske myndigheter har feilet i sin plikt til å beskytte villaksen og etterlyser en helt annen forsvarlig norsk politikk for å ta vare på den.

SISTE NYTT:
Russiske myndigheter støtter kravet fra ICES om at Norge må endre sin politikk for å beskytte villaksen.Brevet er signert Andrey Krayniy, lederen av det russiske fiskeridepartementet.

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.

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 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.


The open letter are signed by:

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)