Group urges Ottawa to take ‘aggressive’ approach with Greenland over salmon
ST. ANDREWS, N.B. — The Atlantic Salmon Federation is urging Ottawa to take a more “aggressive” approach with Greenland — where salmon migrate from Canada and are harvested — as returns continue to decline.
A federation report released Thursday said 2016 returns for North American Atlantic salmon were 27 per cent lower than the previous year, and may indicate further declines in 2017. The population estimates were based on data from Canada, the U.S., and Greenland.
The report said grilse — Atlantic salmon that return to spawn after only one year at sea — saw the greatest decrease: 31 per cent lower than 2015.
Federation president Bill Taylor said the federal government needs to urge Greenland to reduce its salmon fishery.