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The Fisheries
Atlantic salmon sport fishing is a time-honored tradition practiced around the North Atlantic Ocean. Historically, angling was a "gentleman's sport", pursued by relatively few. Now, in Canada, an estimated 70,000 anglers catch 75,000-128,000 Atlantic salmon each year, supporting an industry valued at more than 75 million dollars. These fishermen are subject to strict catch regulations, issued with angling licenses by each province, and are limited to the taking of salmon by fly fishing only. On most rivers in Canada, Atlantic salmon longer than 63 cm (24.8 inches) must be released that the can continue their runs to spawn.
Commercial salmon fishing was once pursued in all eastern Canadian waters but was limited in 1985 to fixed net fisheries in Labrador, the norhern coast of Québec an most of Newfoundland. Since 1992, many of the remaining commercial fishermen sold their fishing liceses and gear t othe Canadian government. There remains a small commercial fishery of Québec and Labrador, and a few licensed fishermen in Newfoundland who are prevented from fishing by a 5-year mroatirium, imposed by the government in 1992. The buy-out program for the traditional net fishermen licensed to fish salmon in Canada from more than 7500 in the 1970's to less than 300 in 1994.
A recreational fishery for Atlantic salmon exists in the United States. In Maine, sport fishermen report a catch of 300 to 500 salmon annually from the Penobscot River and six other rivers. Fly fishing is only permitted in most locations and strict daily and season limits apply. As in Canada, anglers must release all salmon longer than 63 cm. There is a restoration program on many New England rivers, including the Penobscot, the Connecticut and Merrimack rivers.
As a result of declining stocks and international conservation measures, the reported world catch of the Atlantic salmon (recreational and commercial combined) declined from 1980 to 1994 by more than half. Catches continue to go down as stocks decline and as hig seas fisheries are suspended from operation. Anglers still successfully cast for salmon in the waters of Canada, England and Wales, France, Island, Ireland, Norway, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, the United States and Russia
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