Programs
Sustainable FisheriesSakhalin Salmon Initiative
Market prices for salmon from the Russian Far East have fallen over 50% in the last 20 years. With the Sustainable Fisheries project, the SSI aims to spark modernization and bring value back into a key sector of the fishing industry.
In 2008, WSC and the SSI Center will encourage the Sakhalin Commercial Fisheries Association and/or the Sakhalin Oblast Fisheries Department to commission a Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) pre-assessment of the Sakhalin salmon fishery. If the plan is successfully implemented, the pre-assessment will be conducted in August-September, 2008, during the pink salmon run. The pre-assessment will yield recommendations about how to improve the sustainability of Sakhalin's salmon fisheries. On the basis of pre-assessment, full assessment may be conducted in 2009 for either the entire island's salmon fishery or for a portion of the fishery.
Meanwhile, SSI will identify potential Russian and international buyers of Sakhalin's salmon, with whom Sakhalin's commercial fisheries could sign long-term purchase agreements contingent upon implementation of the MSC pre-assessment recommendations.
SSI will also commission a study of salmon processing and transportation infrastructure on the island. The study will provide recommendations regarding Sakhalin fishery development strategies that will allow for the entry into value added domestic and export markets.
processing caviar
The recommendations concerning fishery sustainability, processing infrastructure and transportation infrastructure will make up the future SSI Sustainable Fisheries Plan. Once the recommendations are in place, SSI will seek additional resources in order to set about carrying out the plan.
SSI will also work with indigenous fishermen on Sakhalin, exploring means of establishing sustainable and profitable tribal-run salmon fisheries on the island. As a first step in this process, five indigenous representatives from Sakhalin will travel to Oregon and Washington in April, 2008 to meet with their American tribal counterparts.
Download a copy of the 2008 work plan for this and other SSI projects.