The Thjórsá, the country‘s biggest river system, originates in the mighty Hofsjökull glacier in the middle of Iceland. It hosts Iceland´s biggest sustainable wild salmon stock and also holds brown trout, sea trout and some char. Nearly 90% of the natural fish habitat in the river lies above the Urridafoss waterfall and revolutionary changes were proposed to the flow of the river. NASF warned the government that this would create huge losses of habitat ...]]> The Icelandic Government has accepted NASF‘s objections to a new hydro-electric generating scheme on Iceland‘s biggest river and suspended the plans to build three dams to power generation plants.  NASF had urged the government to adopt a precautionary approach to proposals by Landsvirkjun, Iceland‘s biggest power company, to harness power from the river Thjorsá.  A proposal to this effect will now be presented to the Icelandic Parliament.

The Thjórsá, the country‘s biggest river system, originates in the mighty Hofsjökull glacier in the middle of Iceland. It hosts Iceland´s biggest sustainable wild salmon stock and also holds brown trout, sea trout and some char. Nearly 90% of the natural fish habitat in the river lies above the Urridafoss waterfall and revolutionary changes were proposed to the flow of the river. NASF warned the government that this would create huge losses of habitat and nursery areas for juvenile salmon.

Using taxpayers cash the power company, has invested heavily in the projects but had failed to fully assess the colossal damage to the natural environment that could be caused. It had also failed to consult with the river owners and merely cited the “Columbia and Snake rivers in the Northwest United States as evidence of their good intentions. Twenty years ago the river owners around Thjórsá negotiated a deal that provided them with a fish ladder at the Buda waterfall. It appears to be reasonably successful but many of the river owners say it is just a start to huge salmon enhancement activities envisoned for the whole river system.

Over the last decade or so Iceland river catches have doubled and trebled following the strict protection and enhancement schemes that progressive angling operators and river owners in Iceland have introduced. These include conservation deals in the marine environment, coastal nets buyouts, catch-&-release, carefully focused stocking projects and a variety of other innovative enhancment work.

Orri Vigfusson, chairman of the North Atlantic Salmon Fund (NASF)  says that schemes like the now-suspended Thjórsá plan should be an international issue and be related to climate changes. „ As glaciers shrink  the snow melt from which many rivers spring will reduce.  As sea levels rise, salination of the lower reaches will increase,„ he said.

Far from building new dams we need to accelerate their removal.  In the last ten years only 410 American dams were removed and there are 84,000 more. Demolishing big obstructions like hydro dams will improve natural river flows and the production of feed and oxygen for the fish, mammals and invertebrates that live in or around a river. Hopefully marine life will also stand to benefit.

In Maine, the 160-year-old Edward Dam was removed from the Kennebec River in 1999 and today the river boasts a thriving and diverse fishery. Undamming the Elwha river in Washington is expected to boost its salmon population from 3,000 to 400,000 and this will attract bears, eagles and other wildlife that thrived before the river dams were built in 1914.

NASF is currently supporting plans to remove dams obstructing wild salmon runs in the Sélune river in the Mont-Saint-Michel area of Normandy in France. It is also supporting an Atlantic Salmon Federation project to remove the dams on the Penobscot river in Maine that would open up a thousand miles of new salmon habitat.

In submitting its biological and environmental assessment, NASF sought the advice of Dr Margaret Filardo, Fishery Biologist and Michele DeHart, Manager of the Fish Passage Center in Oregon. A host of Icelandic experts including the Thórsá river board have advised and participated in the NASF assessment of this project.

„We now need a few years to explore the real opportunities the Thórsá river system can offer,“ Orri Vigfusson said. „Our focus will be on the salmon stocks and we shall use the vast expertise our worldwide teams have amassed over the last 20 years. We hope to develop a master plan for a massive salmon enhancement programme throughout this uniquely productive water system. Simultaneously we shall need to develop angling programmes and encourage eco-tourism and a host of other projects that will create new jobs and new income revenues for the local population that live beside this huge river.“

For the last two decades the few salmon that still make it back to the two rivers have enjoyed complete protection. The rod fishermen and the commercial boatmen have carefully returned every salmon they caught in the hope that natural spawning and concerted efforts to improve the habitats would rebuild the runs. But the future of the salmon populations of both rivers remains officially designated ...]]> For 2000 years the fishermen of Mudeford in Dorset are believed to have followed an unbroken tradition of organised fishing to catch the big salmon and sea trout returning  to the Hampshire Avon and the Dorset Stour from their sea migration.  Thirty years ago the once-prolific runs began to decline. Now, after 20 years of failed efforts to help nature restore the salmon numbers,  the remaining professional salmon fishermen have decided to hang up their nets.

For the last two decades the few salmon that still make it back to the two rivers have enjoyed complete protection. The rod fishermen and the commercial boatmen have carefully returned every salmon they caught in the hope that natural spawning and concerted efforts to improve the habitats would rebuild the runs. But the future of the salmon populations of both rivers remains officially designated as being “At Risk.”

In addition to the research and conservation projects  that have been employed the Environment Agency has maintained a net limitation order for many years and the two remaining boatmen have helped the researchers and co-operated with every restraint suggested to them.  But nothing has really worked so far.

The order restricting the number of nets is now being renewed and negotiations began to bring the ancient fishery to a complete end. This has now resulted in a voluntary buyout of the netting rights funded by a partnership between the Agency, the North Atlantic Salmon Fund (NASF) and the Avon and Stour Rivers Association. The netsmen will receive  * mutually agreed compensation. Supporters of NASF, guided by salmon conservationist, Brian Marshall,  are contributing 50% of the money through the Migratory Salmon Foundation, a UK conservation charity. The Agency provided 25% on and the Avon and Stour Rivers Association contributed the remainder.

Climate changes affecting ocean currents and the abundance of the prey species that salmon feed on during their long oceanic migrations have been blamed for a steep and general decline in wild Atlantic salmon numbers on both sides of the North Atlantic. There are possible signs of a tentative improvement in many rivers.  Iceland, for example, has enjoyed record salmon catches recently. But the Avon and the Stour and the Wye, and other UK rivers that like them was once world-famous for the quality of its salmon fishing, seem to have lost their capacity to restore themselves naturally.  They share this unenviable distinction with many Atlantic salmon rivers in New England and Canada.

International salmon campaigner Orri Vigfusson, chairman of both NASF and the Migratory Salmon Foundation, said: “In agreeing to surrender their netting rights, in perpetuity, the Mudeford netsmen have demonstrated their great concern for the species. I congratulate all concerned for their continuing determination to improve the situation.  Our participation is another example of our efforts to return Atlantic salmon numbers to their former abundance. With the help of our partner organisations about 90% of the commercial salmon fisheries that were standing in the way of a recovery has been removed.”

Atlantic Salmon Magic by Topher Browne Special Foreword by Orri Vigfússon Introduction by Simon Gawesworth Hardcover. When and why does a salmon take an angler’s fly and what does the salmon actually see? These and other essential questions are answered thoroughly and intelligently in Atlantic Salmon Magic by Topher Browne, ...]]> Buy Atlantic Salmon Magic – Limited Edition

Limited edition signed by the author and numbered one through 250 (50 of which has been made availiable to us here in Europe) on a special clear vellum page bound into the front, each superb book is handsomely bound in black leather and stamped in embossed silver. Each Limited Edition of Atlantic Salmon Magic comes in an attractive matching slipcase. A real collector’s item! As a bonus, the seller will donate $250 of your purchase price to an Atlantic Salmon Charity (yet to be specified).

Atlantic Salmon Magic by Topher Browne Special Foreword by Orri Vigfússon Introduction by Simon Gawesworth Hardcover. When and why does a salmon take an angler’s fly and what does the salmon actually see? These and other essential questions are answered thoroughly and intelligently in Atlantic Salmon Magic by Topher Browne, the most complete book on the subject in a generation.

Buy Atlantic Salmon Magic – Limited Edition

Everyone who admires Salmo salar and the marvelous rivers it inhabits will enjoy it and want a copy. A detailed description of the book and instructions for ordering it are on the following page.

The book sells for £35 in the UK, 4500 ISK in Iceland, €50 in Europe and $59.95 in the US. We are hopeful corporations and other organizations will purchase multiple copies as gifts for clients and friends. Organization who purchase 50 or more copies can have ...]]> Please contact Orri to order A Celebration of Salmon Rivers

NASF’s exciting new photography book, A Celebration of Salmon Rivers, is a significant book in the world of the Atlantic salmon. Covering more Atlantic salmon rivers than any book before and containing a Foreword by HRH the Prince of Wales, wonderful photos of rivers rarely photographed and articles by an elite group of sportsmen.

Everyone who admires Salmo salar and the marvelous rivers it inhabits will enjoy it and want a copy. A detailed description of the book and instructions for ordering it are on the following page.

The book sells for £35 in the UK, 4500 ISK in Iceland, €50 in Europe and $59.95 in the US. We are hopeful corporations and other organizations will purchase multiple copies as gifts for clients and friends. Organization who purchase 50 or more copies can have their name and logo printed on the cover for a slight additional charge (i.e., €2950 for 50 and €5450 for 100 copies). The book will make a splendid gift for the holidays and recipients will know that part of what you paid will go to a very worthwhile cause.

NASF’s exciting new photography book, A Celebration of Salmon Rivers, is a significant book in the world of the Atlantic salmon. Covering more Atlantic salmon rivers than any book before and containing a Foreword by HRH the Prince of Wales, wonderful photos of rivers rarely photographed and articles by an elite group of sportsmen.

Please contact Orri to order A Celebration of Salmon Rivers

PASSION Called Salmon is filmed in High Definition technology , filmed to explore all the aspects of salmon angling obsession, as well as making a (documentary style) analyses of the unique problems that some of the regions, where film was made, are facing. The crew visited Sela and ...]]> Buy Passion Called Salmon DVD

PASSION Called Salmon is a film centred around the key issues related to salmon survival. During the last two years a New York based marketing editor has travelled to the key salmon regions throughout the North Atlantic range and to several famous salmon rivers of the world and documented his personal fishing experience and experiences of the people like him in love with these remote rivers and trophy salmon. Film Director Sasa Savic assembled a team of talented film makers who put their skills and hearts into the project.

PASSION Called Salmon is filmed in High Definition technology , filmed to explore all the aspects of salmon angling obsession, as well as making a (documentary style) analyses of the unique problems that some of the regions, where film was made, are facing. The crew visited Sela and Laxá in Adaldalur in Iceland and spent a great of time fishing and filming in three main locations: Yokanga River (Russia), Grand Cascapedia (Canada) and River Alta (Norway). Length of the film is 69 minutes.

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Mr Haughey, who lives in Belfast, was a leading figure in a conservation breakthrough aimed at restoring wild salmon stocks in Northern Ireland. He is also the chairman of the Ulster Angling Federation.

The project he led won the backing of the Northern Ireland government and the support of most leading private sector stakeholders. It brought about the first major salmon agreement in Ireland in which commercial netsmen all along the coast of Northern Ireland volunteered to cease harvesting wild salmon in order to rebuild salmon stocks.

Mr Haughey’s groups raised considerable funds to match Government funding and provide the necessary compensation package. He was able to persuade most of the region’s angling clubs and other interest groups to come ...]]> Jim Haughey, chairman of the North Atlantic Salmon Fund in Northern Ireland, has been appointed MBE in the UK’s New Year’s Honours List.

Mr Haughey, who lives in Belfast, was a leading figure in a conservation breakthrough aimed at restoring wild salmon stocks in Northern Ireland. He is also the chairman of the Ulster Angling Federation.

The project he led won the backing of the Northern Ireland government and the support of most leading private sector stakeholders. It brought about the first major salmon agreement in Ireland in which commercial netsmen all along the coast of Northern Ireland volunteered to cease harvesting wild salmon in order to rebuild salmon stocks.

Mr Haughey’s groups raised considerable funds to match Government funding and provide the necessary compensation package. He was able to persuade most of the region’s angling clubs and other interest groups to come to the negotiating table and this created the framework that led to the successful and amicable outcome.

Thanks to his distinguished background as an engineer and his experience in working with grassroots organisations he was particularly fitted to assess the data and develop sensible strategies. In guiding his colleagues and associates on how best to pursue the objectives and set the right priorities he was able to deploy convincing arguments that clearly set out the benefits that an agreement would bring for Irish salmon and for the public.

Mr. Haughey has also been a leading player in the NASF’s international coalition of voluntary private sector groups who have joined together to bring about a general restoration of all wild Atlantic salmon stocks. Despite the need to concentrate on the Irish project he has acted as an admirable advocate of the economic benefits that a general restoration of wild salmon numbers would offer. About 85% of all salmon netsmen on both sides of the Atlantic have now signed up to commercial conservation agreements of the kind that Jim Haughey has worked so hard to achieve.

Orri Vigfússon, NASF Chairman in Reykjavik said: “ It has been an honour to work with Jim for almost twenty years. He did an amazing job in bringing so many people together of all political persuasions to negotiate despite the political turmoil that gripped Northern Ireland for so long. Like all the people who form the backbone of our organisation Jim works for us on a purely voluntary basis. This is a cornerstone of our organization.”

“There is still work to be done and Mr Haughey seems to spend longer hours every day helping us reach our great goal of a better future for the wild salmon resource. His award is richly deserved”.

On offer were many great fishing trips at home and abroad as well as some quality fishing tackle. The most desirable item was a two day salmon fishing adventure on the Alta which, after a hard “battle”, was sold for NOK 170,000 to a British fisherman!

The Board members of Reddvillaksen.no give up their time freely (over 1,000 hours annually) to save wild salmon, and are very pleased and grateful to all donors and supporters who made such generous donations and bids. Without the contributions of these kindred spirits there would be no auction and salmon would indeed be in even greater peril.

Money raised will also help launch a ...]]> NASF/Reddvillaksen.no had its annual auction to raise money for wild salmon conservation last Thursday in Oslo (27th Oct). The auction raised a fantastic 800,000 NOK to the foundation, which is a new record!

On offer were many great fishing trips at home and abroad as well as some quality fishing tackle. The most desirable item was a two day salmon fishing adventure on the Alta which, after a hard “battle”, was sold for NOK 170,000 to a British fisherman!

The Board members of Reddvillaksen.no give up their time freely (over 1,000 hours annually) to save wild salmon, and are very pleased and grateful to all donors and supporters who made such generous donations and bids. Without the contributions of these kindred spirits there would be no auction and salmon would indeed be in even greater peril.

Money raised will also help launch a new in-river conservation project where Reddvillaksen.no will work closely with NJFF (Norway’s Hunting and Fishing Association), to improve spawning conditions, nursery areas and living conditions in streams and small rivers. NJFF will organize and implement the projects based on local initiatives by their members and Reddvillaksen.no will contribute to the project’s funding.

Chairman Paul Klouman of Reddvillaksen.no began the evening by presenting the foundation’s new website www.reddvillaksen.no, which provides detailed information about the wild salmon and its challenges. Klouman also highlighted current issues before the auction started:

A call for clear double-labeling of farmed fish
Reddvillaksen.no, together with Norwegian Salmon Rivers initiated a broad cooperation with other organizations dedicated to wild salmon. The organizations have sent out a common requirement that all farmed fish must be double “labeled”, with both fat-fin cut and marked with origin. Escaped farmed fish are environmental hazards and it is vital that we can trace the source of this pollution to improve safe-guards at the offending fish-farms.

Stopping Norway netting Russia’s salmon
Klouman also informed us about the Norwegian scandal of sea salmon fishing with bend nets and other methods in Finnmark. Norway harvests Russian salmon in violation of international law. About 20% of the annual run (16 Tons) to Kola Rivers is caught by this fishery, for the spring run the share is even higher. This really must cease from next season. The same point was emphasized by Orri Vigfusson, the founder of the North Atlantic Salmon Fund.

A cry to move toward closed containment fish farms
Erik Sterud, Chief Advisor to the Norwegian Salmon Rivers Association, emphasized the need for the fish farming industry to move toward closed containment fish-farming methods which are seeing increasing commercial use in Canada. Apparently, production costs for closed-containment farming are competitive against traditional net pens. If we add the fact that sea cage fish farms should pay for the costs of polluting the coastal waters with biological waste, sea lice, virus and genetic challenges this must be the future solution of fish farming.

The 2011 Auction was a great success and thank you once again to everyone for their contributions and donations.

Download Full Norwegian Auction Catalogue here.

The Seventh Auction in support of wild salmon in Norway will be held on:

27th October 2011 from 6:30 PM. Astrup Fearnley Museum for Modern Art Entrance from Grev Wedels plass 9, Oslo