Contact: Stephanie Dorezas              FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
                                        6/23/98

The United States Succeeded in negotiating an agreement to close the Atlantic salmon commercial fishery in West Greenland for the rest of this year to prevent further decline in the fishery's dangerously low salmon stocks, the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced today.

This agreement was worked out at a meeting held in Edinburgh, Scotland June 8-12 by NASCO, of which the United States is a member. NASCO, however, agreed to allow the Greenland fishery to continue operating for internal consumption, but not for export of salmon. At the June meeting, NASCO noted that drastic conservation measures it implemented this year should aid in the recovery of salmon stocks to a level that will support a sustainable fishery shared equally by its users.

"The significance of this action cannot be overstated," said the head of the U.S. Delegation, Andy Rosenberg. "The wild salmon stocks are at perilous levels and require the strongest conservation measures. Denmark (on behalf of Greenland) worked with us in taking this precautionary action."

Salmon originating from U.S. and Canadian rivers migrate to Greenland waters, where until more recent years they were harvested for commercial purposes. For the past several years, these North American stocks of salmon have been declining and restrictions on the West Greenland fishery have been increasing during that time. NASCO agreed that Greenland could continue an "internal consumption" fishery for salmon but could not export any salmon. The NASCO members, including the U.S., noted that the drastic measures implemented this year should aid in the recovery of the stocks to a level that will support a sustainable fishery shared equitably among the parties.

In addition, Canada agreed to place a moratorium on its commercial salmon fishery in Labrador. This action complements earlier conservation measures announced by Canada regarding commercial and recreational salmon fisheries in Atlantic Canada. Canada's action to close the Labrador fishery and the agreement with Greenland mean that there are no commercial fisheries for Atlantic salmon in the northwest Atlantic.

"Canada's conservation action, and specifically, its action regarding Labrador, is to be commended and underscores the serious condition of these salmon resources," said Rosenberg. "Closing a fishery is never easy, but Canada stood up to the challenge."

NASCO addressed a number of other issues relating to salmon conservation including the Precautionary Approach to Atlantic salmon management. Under such an approach, inadequate scientific information would not be used as a reason for postponing or failing to take adequate conservation and management measures. During the meeting, NASCO endorsed the Precautionary Approach to Atlantic salmon and made significant progress in developing a plan for its implementation. The United States strongly supports the application of the Precautionary Approach in fisheries management organizations.

NASCO is a seven member organization concerned with international cooperation on the conservation, restoration, enhancement, and rational management of North Atlantic salmon. The 1999 meeting of NASCO will be held in Ireland from June 7-11, 1999.