| Press Statement Philip T. Reeker, Deputy Spokesman Washington, DC August 23, 2002 Agreement to Conserve Endangered Atlantic SalmonThe Department of State is pleased to report the signing of a forward-looking Agreement to conserve dwindling stocks of wild salmon in the North Atlantic region. The Agreement, which has been concluded between the North Atlantic Salmon Fund and the Organization of Hunters and Fishermen in Greenland and signed by the Atlantic Salmon Federation, will contribute greatly to efforts of the United States and others to allow Atlantic salmon stocks to recover. The Atlantic Salmon Federation and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation signed this vital Agreement as sponsors. We are also pleased that the Greenland Home Rule Government has endorsed the Agreement. Atlantic salmon have declined to perilously low levels in recent years. In response, the United States has adopted drastic measures to conserve this precious resource. We have closed all U.S. fisheries and have taken the critical step of listing virtually all of the last remaining wild populations of Atlantic salmon as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Because Atlantic salmon face a number of risks in waters beyond U.S. jurisdiction, however, international cooperation is needed to ensure the survival of this resource. The Agreement signed on August 9 represents a strong initiative to minimize one of these risks -- interception of U.S.-origin salmon in the fisheries of West Greenland. We commend the organizations and individuals involved for their concerted efforts to develop this initiative and urge them to ensure its complete implementation. We also urge that implementation of the Agreement continue as far into the future as possible, so as to provide significantly improved protection for Atlantic salmon for the longer term. For our part, the Department of State will be following efforts to implement the Agreement closely and will be looking for opportunities to contribute to this process. |
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