The United States, the United Kingdom, Denmark (for the Faroe Islands and Greenland), the European Union, Canada, Norway, and Russia are also members of NASCO.
The Government of Iceland
Iceland is a member again of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO). Because of the collapse of the Icelandic banking system, the country withdrew its membership back in late 2009.
The United States, the United Kingdom, Denmark (for the Faroe Islands and Greenland), the European Union, Canada, Norway, and Russia are also members, and more than 20 observer organizations are affiliated with the organization.
NASCO, established in Reykjavik in 1984, focuses on the promotion of the protection, restoration, and sustainable use of salmon stocks in the North Atlantic Ocean.
One of its main tasks is to deal with the migratory routes of wild salmon stocks in the ocean, the increasing threat of salmon lice proliferation, and the impact of aquaculture on wild salmon stocks.
According to the Government of Iceland, international cooperation and shared knowledge are indispensable for the success of NASCO.
"It is certainly a significant milestone that Iceland should now regain its seat within NASCO," said Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Katrín Jakobsdóttir. "It is important for us to have our say in the discussion and the decisions made regarding wild salmon stocks in international cooperation."
Finding a balance between the protection of wild salmon stocks and the development of salmon farming is a priority always at the core of Icelandic aquaculture policies. Especially at a time like the present when, as WeAreAquaculture just informed Iceland's aquaculture sector has witnessed an unprecedented surge in its export value.
During the first two months of 2024, aquaculture products achieved an export value of over $97 million - "the highest value ever for this period on record," CEO of Fisheries Iceland Heidrun Marteinsdottir confirmed.