We are all well aware of the challenges facing our precious Atlantic wild salmon these days. For those of us who are passionately engaged in salmon fishing and concerned about the well-being of wild salmon, and who have witnessed the negative trend for many years, it came as no surprise that salmon ended up on the list of endangered species a couple of years ago.
BY THE EDITORIAL STAFF
Wild salmon stocks in almost all Norwegian rivers are negatively affected by aquaculture, primarily the various negative aspects of salmon farming in Norwegian fjords where escapements, pollution, and lice problems are completely out of control. There is also purse seining in Norwegian fjords targeting mixed stocks where large quantities of salmon are caught as they migrate to the rivers to spawn. Purse seiners harvest a so-called surplus that is not real or present. Overfishing in the sea of key species such as sand eels, which are vital for salmon growth and survival, also has a negative impact. In addition, the development of Norwegian rivers for hydropower production has been a major challenge since the 1960s and 1970s. The combination of these factors has led to the collapse of wild salmon stocks. The problems are not isolated to Norway alone; we also see struggling salmon stocks in Scotland and Iceland.
Although recreational fishing for salmon is not the greatest challenge to the salmon, it is important and crucial that we as anglers take our share of responsibility to avoid overfishing on the stocks that have managed to survive all the aforementioned challenges and have actually returned to their home rivers to spawn. In this regard, we believe that landowners and managers of our rivers have a great responsibility to ensure the best possible spawning stock target. We also believe that the management of our rivers is largely driven by low competence, short-sightedness because the focus on making money is greater than the focus on protecting salmon. We believe that this results in many rivers being managed in a simply cowardly manner.
In recent years, seasonal quotas, maximum size limits, and protection of female salmon have been introduced in most Norwegian rivers. As salmon stocks have declined, quotas have decreased and regulations have become stricter. After 2023 turned out to be one of the worst years for both catch and spawning stock targets in recent history, it was with some disbelief that we read that the board responsible for managing one of Norway’s most important rivers, the Gaula, actually chose to increase the quota for the amount of large salmon that can be taken from the river.
Just a few days after this news became known, some of the most well-known lodges in Gaula took action and opposed the new rule changes in Gaula. We applaud this initiative, and it shows that there are still serious actors who have the survival of the salmon in focus.
In this context, we spoke with Ann-Britt Bogen, who is the lodge manager at Gaula Flyfishing Friends (GFF). She has been instrumental in bringing together the most important lodges to agree on this important initiative.
Hi Ann-Britt! Could you briefly tell us what GFF is and how/when it started, and most importantly, what GFF, Gaula, and the wild salmon mean to you?
Ann-Britt: Gaula Flyfishing Friends (GFF) is a rotation fishing scheme consisting of various exciting beats located in the middle part of Gaula, which I believe must have been created for fly fishermen. This year marks 40 years since Arne Flagestad started GFF, so this is Gaula’s oldest rotation and still going strong.
I have been closely involved with both GFF, the river, and the salmon for many years, and my strong commitment to the wild salmon has increased in line with the ever-growing challenges it faces. Now that I run GFF myself, my focus is on promoting responsible fishing, as well as creating a good and inclusive atmosphere. It’s an understatement to say that wild salmon means infinitely much to me personally; it’s about heritage, history, environment, work, and lifestyle. Wild salmon fills my heart to the brim.
We have just passed 2023, which turned out to be one of the worst seasons in recent memory, both in terms of catch and, notably, returning salmon and poor spawning stock targets. What are your thoughts on the outlook for fishing and the salmon in Gaula for 2024 and the years to come?
Ann-Britt: I think I share my concern with many fishermen out there, after the collective collapse we witnessed last year. The big question is how long the salmon can defy all the major challenges it faces, which unfortunately are constantly worsening. Hope remains, but the outlook for wild salmon does not look bright at all.
We have managed relatively well in Gaula in recent years, due to good management and a high rate of catch and release. However, Gaula has been balancing on a knife’s edge for several years when it comes to having enough spawning fish left in the river after the season ends. Opening up to kill far more salmon than is reasonable will likely change the salmon stock and river fishing already within a few years. We have seen the consequences of overfishing in other rivers, and it is high time to stop taking wild salmon for granted.
When I think positively, I believe that a robust salmon stock like Gaula’s can be preserved. It certainly has better conditions than many other rivers. But then we must let the salmon dictate to a greater extent and ensure sustainable management, both locally and at the political level.
It’s the sum of “madness” that will break the wild salmon, I think. Therefore, it’s important that landowners and fishermen, and to a high degree a board in a river owners association, acknowledge the responsibility we have for the salmon when it comes to the river to spawn. If we don’t do that, it could be the last straw that breaks the camel’s back.
In light of the challenges the salmon faces in Gaula, we were quite surprised when we read in December 2023 that the Gaula board chose to ease the rules instead of tightening them before the 2024 season. It was with great joy that we saw GFF, led by you, together with Gaula Flyfishing Lodge, Norwegian Flyfishers Club, and Winsnes Flyfishing Lodge, chose to oppose the Gaula board’s regulations and actually tighten the rules on their beats. Tell us what prompted you to take this step together with the other lodges.
Ann-Britt: Like many others, I have been concerned about the wild salmon for a long time. In the last two years, I have also been very concerned about the direction the management is heading. In Gaula, we are almost 700 landowners, and I understand, of course, that we cannot expect everyone to have knowledge about responsible management of a salmon river. Therefore, it is crucial that we have competence and willingness in the river owners’ association.
When the proposal for quota changes came, I knew it was time to involve more people who, like GFF, understand the negative consequences this will entail. The other lodges operate very seriously and have fishermen with great respect for wild salmon. Therefore, it was natural for us to come together publicly in an attempt to highlight the consequences and encourage caution.
Tell us how the rules of GFF, Gaula Flyfishing Lodge, Norwegian Flyfishers Club, and Winsnes Flyfishing Lodge differ from the new rules now in effect for the rest of Gaula.
Ann-Britt: For simplicity’s sake, we chose to retain the old and well-established quotas, which have been proven to work and contribute to maintaining the salmon stock. Our rules involve far fewer killed salmon, a longer period of female salmon protection, and total protection of all salmon over 95cm. With these rules, we save many of the important females.
We could probably have even stricter quotas without meeting dissatisfaction, but because our fishermen themselves take great responsibility for the salmon, there is no need for it in practice. For our part, however, it is of great symbolic value to maintain and encourage reasonable quotas.
Although many salmon fishermen support GFF and the other lodges in their courageous decision regarding the regulations in Gaula, we can imagine that not everyone is equally happy about this. Have you received a lot of negative criticism, and if so, what do the critics say?
Ann-Britt: Regarding the measure we implemented in December, we have received endless positive feedback, from all over the world. There has been great understanding and support for the initiative, especially among sports fishermen who share our concern. The negative criticism has so far been limited to comments online, where updated research and facts about the situation of wild salmon are not exactly at the center of opinions. I note that the younger generation that is coming forward has good attitudes and a completely different approach to fishing for a red-listed species.
If you log on to GFF’s websites, you’ll quickly realize that salmon is the focus and that profit is not necessarily the driving force for GFF. You can read the following: “Ann-Britt Bogen, manager: “I want GFF to be a place for responsible anglers, who fight with passion and treat the wild salmon with the respect it deserves.”” Is it difficult to run fishing tourism where you naturally depend on turnover and at the same time find fishermen who accept stricter rules than those that apply to the rest of Gaula?
Ann-Britt: No, I actually think it’s the opposite. Many are probably afraid of losing fishermen if they are too strict. When GFF announced the female salmon protection last fall, I lost a few but received many new inquiries. The difference is that you attract a different type of fishermen. Through GFF, I have spoken to many over the years, and the majority are informed and engaged in management, passionately in their relationship to the overall salmon fishing experience. It’s little about quotas. I wish more people understood this. Because in one of the world’s best salmon rivers, we have the privilege of choice. We can choose sustainable management, and we can choose to attract the fishermen who want to take care of Gaula, along with us.
Finally, is there anything else you would like to mention or highlight?
Ann-Britt: I would like to mention that we four lodges, along with several other landowners, have dusted off the “Gaula Salmon Fund,” which will now function as an interest organization for wild salmon in Gaula. Under the auspices of GSF, we are launching an initiative called “Preserve Gaula Salmon,” with the goal of conveying reality. We will conduct informational activities based on research and fact-based information, as well as create greater engagement. Together, we hope to become a large and strong community of landowners, fishing providers, fishermen, and local businesses who can and will actively work to ensure the future of Gaula salmon.
We would like to thank you for you/ GFF, Gaula Flyfishing Lodge, Norwegian Flyfishers Club, and Winsnes Flyfishing Lodge taking a principled step in protecting the salmon even better on your beats. We encourage all other managers of Atlantic salmon to implement similar locally tailored measures to help it through the crisis it is facing.
For more info about Gaula Fly Fishing, please refer to: https://www.gaulaflyfishing.com
