Report of the 2005 ICES/NASCO Symposium on Interactions ...

NINA SPECIAL REPORT 34
Annex 2: Keynote Presentations
- Session Chairmen’s Summary
Lars Petter Hansen and Malcolm Windsor
Janne Sollie, <strong>the</strong> Director General <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Directorate for
Nature Management, opened <strong>the</strong> symposium and
reminded us that while <strong>the</strong> topics on our programme this
week were similar to those at <strong>the</strong> previous symposia held
in 1990 and 1997, <strong>the</strong> situation has changed. She referred
to <strong>the</strong> significant growth <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> industry since 1990 and to
<strong>the</strong> continuing decline in wild stocks despite major
reductions in fishing effort and a wide variety <strong>of</strong> measures
to address habitat issues in fresh water. She noted that
our understanding <strong>of</strong> interactions between cultured and
wild salmon has increased markedly since 1990 and that it
is now recognised that salmon farming can pose a serious
threat to <strong>the</strong> wild stocks. However, she noted that
progress is being made - <strong>the</strong>re is now improved
cooperation between <strong>the</strong> salmon farming industry, <strong>the</strong>
authorities and various stakeholders. Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore, new
management measures designed to minimise impacts have
been introduced, not least <strong>NASCO</strong>’s Oslo/Williamsburg
Resolution. She noted, however, that we cannot afford to
be complacent and to highlight <strong>the</strong> importance <strong>of</strong> our
work she referred to two very significant escapes <strong>of</strong>
farmed salmon in Norway this year, which amounted to
about 600,000 fish. She concluded that additional
measures are still required and she stressed <strong>the</strong> need for
solutions to <strong>the</strong> challenges that remain, in order to move
closer towards sustainable culture <strong>of</strong> Atlantic salmon.
We were <strong>the</strong>n reminded <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> importance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> topic
<strong>of</strong> this symposium to both <strong>NASCO</strong> and <strong>ICES</strong>. The
representative <strong>of</strong> <strong>ICES</strong>, Dr Niall Ó Maoiléidigh, told us that
<strong>the</strong> subject <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> symposium was highly relevant to <strong>the</strong>
<strong>ICES</strong> work programme and <strong>the</strong> President <strong>of</strong> <strong>NASCO</strong>, Dr
Ken Whelan, challenged us to urgently find solutions to
<strong>the</strong> real problems that remain in managing interactions
between cultured and wild salmon.
We <strong>the</strong>n had four excellent keynote presentations, which
set <strong>the</strong> scene for <strong>the</strong> week.
Pat O’Reilly highlighted, most eloquently, <strong>the</strong> social and
economic values <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> wild Atlantic salmon. In addition
to <strong>the</strong> very significant values associated with <strong>the</strong> fisheries
and eco-tourism, he reminded us that <strong>the</strong> general public
care about <strong>the</strong> wild Atlantic salmon, an indicator <strong>of</strong>
environmental well-being, and are prepared to pay very
substantially to conserve it. He described, in military
terms, <strong>the</strong> vulnerability <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> resource - assault from <strong>the</strong>
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air, land battles, attacks on freshwater habitat - and
referred to <strong>the</strong> progress being made on many fronts to
address <strong>the</strong>se problems through cooperation among <strong>the</strong>
interested parties. While many problems can be tackled
at a national or local level, he stressed <strong>the</strong> need for
international cooperation in addressing <strong>the</strong> problem <strong>of</strong>
salmon survival at sea. With regard to salmon farming, he
stressed <strong>the</strong> need for fur<strong>the</strong>r progress on implementing
<strong>NASCO</strong>’s Williamsburg Resolution to minimise impacts <strong>of</strong>
aquaculture, and <strong>the</strong> need to apply a Precautionary
Approach. He noted that progress is being made, but
containment is not adequate, given present levels <strong>of</strong>
farmed production. This, he believed, was not in <strong>the</strong>
industry’s long-term interests, not least because <strong>the</strong>
genetic diversity present in <strong>the</strong> wild stocks is <strong>the</strong>ir future
seed-corn. However, he believed that enhanced
cooperation between wild and farmed salmon interests
can address <strong>the</strong> remaining challenges. He cautioned that
while sound science can inform political decision-making,
<strong>the</strong> real power lies with <strong>the</strong> general public. The message
was clear: if <strong>the</strong> salmon farming industry was perceived to
be damaging <strong>the</strong> wild stocks, consumers may reject its
products. He concluded with a powerful rallying call to us
all: Mo<strong>the</strong>r Nature has thrown down <strong>the</strong> gauntlet; we
must not wait until she has thrown in <strong>the</strong> towel.
Our second keynote speaker was Helge Midttun, who
referred to <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> salmon farming
industry since <strong>the</strong> 1960s, an important source <strong>of</strong> income
for coastal and o<strong>the</strong>r communities around <strong>the</strong> North
Atlantic and elsewhere. Worldwide production in <strong>the</strong> last
decade has trebled, reaching 1.2 million tonnes in 2004,
and he considered that <strong>the</strong> continued success <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
industry will require that it is conducted in harmony with
<strong>the</strong> environment, and that where conflicts arise, <strong>the</strong> way
forward is through cooperation and planning. He referred
to <strong>the</strong> fact that <strong>the</strong> world’s fish stocks are fully exploited
so aquaculture has a vital role to play in meeting future
demand for seafood. He suggested that effluents <strong>of</strong>
nutrients and organic matter from salmon farming no
longer represent a major environmental problem, and
antibiotic usage has been dramatically reduced. He
accepted that while almost 98% <strong>of</strong> all farmed salmon are
contained in cages, <strong>the</strong> level <strong>of</strong> escapes is still too high
relative to <strong>the</strong> abundance <strong>of</strong> wild stocks. He stressed that
for <strong>the</strong> salmon farming industry to continue its growth,
<strong>the</strong> product must be perceived to be safe and healthy, it
must not be associated with any form <strong>of</strong> deterioration <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> natural environment and <strong>the</strong> industry should be seen
to be open and transparent, and willing to focus on animal
welfare and environmentally sustainable practices.