– It’s with a heavy coronary heart that we cease salmon fishing. We all know that summer season salmon fishing is a crucial custom and an ideal pleasure for many individuals, however now we simply must depend each salmon. It’s our duty to make sure that sufficient spawning fish enter the rivers in order that there are sufficient younger salmon subsequent 12 months to hold the inventory ahead. It’s important in order to not danger a long-term failure of the introduction of salmon, says the Director of the Norwegian Atmosphere Company, Ellen Hambro.
– Motion have to be taken
She emphasizes that the catch of salmon from the ocean to the rivers has been at traditionally low ranges in earlier years, and that it appears to be like even worse this 12 months. The Norwegian Atmosphere Company due to this fact sees that it has to Cease fishing for salmon and white trout (pdf) in 33 rivers from the Swedish border within the south as much as and together with Trøndelag, from midnight till Sunday 23 June. Sea salmon fishing is stopped in the identical stretch, except the Drammensfjord and the Driva area on Nordmøre.
A ban on pole and handline fishing for salmon within the sea has additionally been launched. As well as, there can be an order to launch all salmon caught in different fishing within the sea. The rivers which can be closed are these which, in line with catch figures and different out there info, are thought of to be on the best danger of receiving too few fish on the spawning grounds.
– Now there’s a danger of significant harm to the salmon shares, and we due to this fact imagine that we should take measures. In lots of rivers the place giant salmon are a big a part of the inventory, catches up to now are nicely under half in comparison with latest years, regardless of water stream and water temperature indicating that fishing circumstances must be principally good, says environmental director. Ellen Hambro.
Restrictions have by no means been launched so early
The Norwegian Atmosphere Company has registered that further restrictions on salmon fishing have already been launched in some rivers on native initiative.
– Our regular routine is that we consider the salmon season at the start of July, and that restrictions are launched on salmon fishing within the river and within the sea if essential. We predict this may in all probability be too late this 12 months, within the rivers the place we’ve got already been closing salmon fishing since June 23, says Ellen Hambro.
The Norwegian Atmosphere Company is utilizing a disaster provision within the Salmon and Inland Fish Act to restrict salmon fishing. Additionally previously, the directorate has needed to restrict fishing in the course of the season, however not so early and on such a big scale.
He solely stops when completely essential
The Norwegian Atmosphere Company has accomplished a superb job of acquiring the mandatory background info, and has emphasised the next three standards when deciding which rivers to shut:
- The arrests up to now are a lot decrease in comparison with final 12 months
- Absence of huge salmon when spawning numbers are often excessive
- Rivers at excessive danger of not reaching the spawning inventory goal
–Synthetic influences
A report by the Scientific Council for Salmon Administration (VRL) on 17 June reveals that the impression of salmon farming and local weather change are the largest threats to Atlantic salmon.
– Sadly, we have to be ready for the truth that local weather change, together with different destructive human impacts, might extra typically result in critical penalties for nature. This tightening of salmon fishing is an instance of that, says Hambro.
Reassess in July
– In rivers additional north than Trøndelag, and in rivers with the smallest salmon, the salmon often enter the rivers later. Which means we’re ready on the scenario there till we do the same old mid-way evaluation of the salmon season at the start of July. Then we’ll, so far as potential, additionally make a brand new evaluation of the scenario of salmon within the areas the place fishing is now partially closed, says Hambro.
If there may be new info that signifies that the scenario within the closed rivers is healthier than it seems to be, it could even be acceptable to reopen fishing. The surroundings director encourages river homeowners in areas not affected by the closure resolution to take catch limitation measures earlier than a mid-way analysis of the salmon season at the start of July, the place native data signifies it’s wanted.
– The fishing regulation was determined to be suspended with out session because of the want for fast motion. After the experiences from this summer season’s salmon season, we’ll facilitate a dialogue concerning the procedures for measures within the salmon season, says Hambro.
These are the rivers which can be closed to salmon and trout fishing from midnight till Sunday twenty third June:
Østfold: Glomma m.
Agder: Tovdalselva, Otra, Mandalselva, Lygna
Rogaland: Figgjo, Hjelmelandsåna, Nordelva (Åbøelva), Vikedalselva.
Westland: Uskedalselva, Steinsdalselva, Oselva, Nærøydalselva, Sogndalselva, Daleelva, Gaula in Sunnfjorden, Nausta, Åelva and Ommedalselva, Gloppenelva, Strynselva, Hjalma.
Møre and Romsdal: Austefjordelva, Korsbrekkelva, Rauma, Eira, Surna.
Trøndelag: Orkla, Gaula, Nidelva, Stjørdalselva, Verdalselva, Steinkjerelva and Byaelva, Namsen River together with Høylands River and Sanddøla.