Recovery and rebuilding actions for extinct or threatened stocks
of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) have been undertaken frequently in many areas
of the species range. As critical evaluations of the effectiveness of these
recovery actions are often lacking, the ICES Working Group on Effectiveness of Recovery
Actions for Atlantic Salmon (WGERAAS) aims to produce an overview evaluating the
effectiveness of such actions.
Of the many recovery and rebuilding programmes for Atlantic
salmon, both past and present, few have thoroughly reviewed and evaluated the
results of the programme. Such data is potentially very valuable for increasing
the knowledge on what factors influence the success of recovery and rebuilding
programmes. Conclusions from such evaluations can form the basis of general recommendations assisting Atlantic salmon management in
deciding if a recovery or rebuilding programme should be considered, how to maximize
its effectiveness, and how it should be evaluated.
WGERAAS aims to collect basic data on Atlantic salmon recovery and
rebuilding programmes throughout the natural range of the species, collate a
review of the results of these programmes, and determine when such programmes were
successful or unsuccessful. Using this information, WGERAAS aims to produce a
set of recommendations on how to conduct recovery and rebuilding programmes for
Atlantic salmon.