Report of the Twenty-Fifth Annual Meetings of the Commissions
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REPORT OF THE TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL MEETINGS OF THE COMMISSIONS Gijón, Asturias, Spain 3 – 6 JUNE 2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Report of the North American Commission 1 Report of the North East Atlantic Commission 65 Report of the West Greenland Commission 185 Report of the ICES Advisory Committee 219 (Sections 3 to 6 only) List of Participants 257 REPORT OF THE TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COMMISSION 3 – 6 JUNE 2008 Gijón, Asturias, Spain Chairman: Mr George Lapointe (USA) Vice Chairman: Mr Guy Beaupré (Canada) Rapporteur: Ms Susan Roque (Canada) Secretary: Dr Malcolm Windsor NAC(08)10 1 2 CONTENTS PAGE Report of the Twenty-Fifth Annual Meeting of the North American Commission 5 of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization, Tryp Rey Pelayo Hotel Melia, Gijón, Spain, 3-6 June, 2008 Compte rendu de la Vingt-cinquième réunion annuelle de la Commission Nord- 9 Américaine de l’Organisation pour la Conservation du Saumon de l’Atlantique Nord, Hôtel Melia Tryp Rey Pelayo, Gijón, Espagne, 3-6 juin, 2008 Annex 1 Joint NGO Statement to the North American Commission 13 Annex 2 Agenda, NAC(08)9 15 Annex 3 Overview of Fisheries and Stock Status of Atlantic Salmon in 17 Eastern Canada for 2007, NAC(08)6 Annex 4 Report on US Atlantic Salmon Management and Research 35 Activities in 2007, NAC(08)3 Annex 5 A Description of the Management of the Commercial Atlantic 45 Salmon Aquaculture Industry in the United States and Canada, NAC(08)5(rev) Annex 6 North American Commission Protocols on Introductions and 49 Transfers of Salmonids, NAC(08)4 Annex 7 Labrador Aboriginal Food Fisheries and Sampling Program, 55 NAC(08)7 Annex 8 Request for Scientific Advice from ICES, CNL(08)9 59 Annex 9 Atlantic Salmon Endowment Fund, NAC(08)8 61 Annex 10 List of North American Commission Papers, NAC(08)00 63 3 4 NAC(08)10 Report of the Twenty-Fifth Annual Meeting of the North American Commission of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization Tryp Rey Pelayo Hotel Melia, Gijón, Spain 3-6 June, 2008 1. Opening of the Meeting 1.1 The Chairman, Mr. George Lapointe (USA), opened the meeting and welcomed participants to the Twenty-Fifth Annual Meeting of the Commission. He invited opening statements from participants and an opening statement was made on behalf of the NGOs (Annex 1). 1.2 A list of participants at the Twenty-Fifth Annual Meeting of the Council and Commissions is included on page 257 of this document. 2. Adoption of the Agenda 2.1 The Commission adopted its Agenda NAC(08)9 (Annex 2). 3. Nomination of a Rapporteur 3.1 Mrs. Sue Rocque (Canada) was appointed as Rapporteur. 4. Election of Officers 4.1 The current Chairman, Mr George Lapointe, has served two full terms and is not eligible for re-appointment. The USA nominated Mr Guy Beaupré (Canada) as Chairman and Canada nominated Mr Steve Gephard (USA) as Vice-Chairman. Both were elected by acclamation. 5. Review of the 2007 Fishery and ACOM Report from ICES on Salmon Stocks in the Commission Area 5.2 The representative of ICES, Mr Tim Sheehan, presented the report from ICES on the scientific advice on salmon stocks in the North American Commission area, CNL(08)7. His presentation is available as NASCO document CNL(08)25. The ACOM report, which contains the scientific advice relevant to all Commissions, is included on page 219 of this document. 6. Review and Discussion of the 2008 Canadian and US Salmon Management Measures as they relate to the Mandate of the Commission and to the Findings of the ACOM Report from ICES 6.1 Mr. Gerald Chaput (Canada) gave an overview of the fisheries and the stock status for Atlantic salmon in Eastern Canada for 2007, NAC(08)6 (Annex 3). In summary, low numbers of adult salmon in eastern Canada continued in 2007. The decline has been 5 more severe for large, including 2 SW salmon, compared to small salmon, although returns of small salmon declined sharply from 2006. The returns in 2007 of large salmon were unchanged from the last ten years and were the third lowest in the time series. Lower returns of small salmon in 2007 and the continued low abundance of salmon overall cannot be attributed to changes in freshwater production. Where monitored, smolt production has generally remained unchanged over the past ten years. In 2007, conservation limits were met or exceeded in 36% of 64 assessed rivers. Despite major changes in fisheries management, returns have continued to decline in the southern areas and many populations are threatened with extirpation. 6.2 Similarly, the USA provided a Report on US Atlantic Salmon Management and Research Activities in 2007, NAC(08)3 (Annex 4). 7. The St Pierre and Miquelon Salmon Fishery 7.1 Ms. Christiane Laurent-Monpetit representing France (in respect of St Pierre and Miquelon) presented document CNL(08)19. The report details an outline of the fishery, the regulatory framework and the management measures currently in place and planned. The representative of France (in respect of St Pierre and Miquelon) also reported on the scientific monitoring program recommended by NASCO and indicated that consultations are underway with respect to France and its current and future relationship with NASCO. 7.2 The USA indicated that it was interested in working with France (in respect of St Pierre and Miquelon) to expand the sampling program and Canada reported on its treaty with France that includes an annual meeting to discuss fisheries issues and other bilateral items. Canada took the opportunity at a recent meeting to encourage France to accede to the NASCO Convention. 8. Salmonid Introductions and Transfers 8.1 Two documents NAC(08)04 and NAC(08)05 had been previously tabled. NAC(08)05(rev) (Annex 5), A Description of the Management of the Commercial Atlantic Salmon Aquaculture Industry in the United States and Canada, was presented by the USA. The document contains a summary of management of commercial Atlantic salmon aquaculture on the East Coast of the United States and on the East Coast of Canada. It includes details for inventory tracking and control, disease testing and management, containment management systems, escape reporting and marking. As there are many similarities between aquaculture management in both the east coast of the US and Canada, and, given the proximity of aquaculture operations, both countries felt that it would be advantageous for them to continue to exchange information on the issues identified in the document. Agreement was reached to formalize reciprocal notification procedures in the event of escape of farmed fish. 8.2 In response to a question from the NGO representative, the USA indicated that the intent is to have the ability to identify farmed fish down to the site-specific level by the end of 2009. 8.3 With respect to NAC(08)04 (Annex 6), North American Commission Protocols on Introductions and Transfers of Salmonids, the USA summarized the jointly drafted 6 document and proposed that members of a Working Group be identified immediately following the NASCO meeting. The Working Group will compile information and meet by phone and in person, to prepare a report which addresses the issues and questions identified in the document. The document suggests that the report be provided to NAC Commissioners no later than two months before the 2009 NASCO Annual Meeting. Canada indicated that its delegation had not had an in-depth review of the document, but agreed to provide the name of a Working Group member to the USA. 9. Sampling in the Labrador Fishery 9.1 Canada reported that it will provide resources for sampling. A detailed program description was provided, NAC(08)7 (Annex 7), Labrador Aboriginal Food Fisheries and Sampling Program. 10. Announcement of the Tag Return Incentive Scheme Prize 10.1 The Chairman announced that the draw for the North American Commission prize in the NASCO Tag Return Incentive Scheme was made by the Auditor on 13 May. The winning tag was of Canadian origin. The tag was applied to a 54cm kelt in the Campbellton River, Newfoundland and Labrador, on 9 May 2007. It was recaptured in a bait herring net at Swan Island in the Bay of Exploits on 2 July 2007. The winner of the $1,500 prize is Ms Yvonne Troake of Summerford, Newfoundland and Labrador. 11. Recommendations to the Council on the Request to ICES for Scientific Advice 11.1 The Commission agreed to the request for scientific advice from ICES prepared by the Standing Scientific Committee in relation to the North American Commission area. The request to ICES, as agreed by the Council, is contained in document CNL(08)9 (Annex 8). 12. Other Business 12.1 Canada tabled document NAC(08)8 (Annex 9), Atlantic Salmon Endowment Fund, for information. The document provides a detailed description of the $30 million Fund that has the goal of helping to achieve healthy and sustainable wild Atlantic salmon populations and their habitat in the Atlantic Provinces and Quebec. 13. Date and Place of the Next Meeting 13.1 The Commission agreed to hold its next meeting at the same time and place as the Twenty-Sixth Annual Meeting of the Council in 2009. 14. Report of the Meeting 14.1 The Commission agreed a report of the meeting. Note: The annexes mentioned above begin on page 13, following the French translation of the report of the meeting. A list of North American Commission papers is included in Annex 10. 7 8 NAC(08)10 Compte rendu de la Vingt-cinquième réunion annuelle de la Commission Nord-Américaine de l’Organisation pour la Conservation du Saumon de l’Atlantique Nord, Hôtel Melia Tryp Rey Pelayo, Gijón, Espagne 3-6 juin, 2008 1.