Minister Byrne Calling on Atlantic Salmon Federation to Sign Joint Declaration to Protect Wild Salmon

March 14, 2025

The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture, is inviting the Atlantic Salmon Federation to sign a joint declaration for salmon conservation and to work together to call on the Federal Government to increase aquaculture resources.

While the province manages the issuances of licenses and some aspects of the wild salmon industry, the protection of wild fish is a responsibility of the Federal Government. The Atlantic Salmon Federation has publicly expressed that they would welcome the opportunity to work with the Provincial Government regarding the Federal Government’s lack of commitment to wild salmon stock management in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Today, Minister Byrne is inviting the Atlantic Salmon Federation to sign a joint declaration for salmon conservation in Newfoundland and Labrador, which notes that:

75 per cent of all wild Atlantic Salmon originating from North American river systems are indigenous to Newfoundland and Labrador.
Newfoundland and Labrador bears an immensely disproportionate foundation for the future of all of North America’s wild Atlantic Salmon.

In the interest of more effective salmon conservation, the declaration calls on Fisheries and Oceans Canada to reverse the decision to allocate disproportionately high resources to jurisdictions where a disproportionately low level of production and recruitment of wild Atlantic Salmon occur. It also requests the realignment of funding and related salmon conservation resources in correct proportion to Newfoundland and Labrador where the majority of salmon reside.

The declaration is currently with Atlantic Salmon Federation for their consideration to sign and join forces and can be viewed here: Fisheries and Aquaculture – Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture.

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“The Federal Government has not fulfilled their responsibilities around the management of wild Atlantic Salmon. I look forward to having the Atlantic Salmon Federation join me in demanding that the Federal Government increase aquaculture resources for our province, in order to protect our oceans and wild Atlantic Salmon. The management of these resources is deeply important to Newfoundland and Labrador and should be equally important at the national level.”

Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture

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