Salmon in the Russian Far East:

Distribution, abundance and statusSalmonid Specialist Group

Outline

Pacific Salmon Conservation Assessment, PSCA

Key threats to salmon in the Russian Far East

IUCN World Conservation Union Assessments of Extinction Risk (species and populations)

Ecoregion Approach

Salmon Abundance

Salmon Species Diversity

Conservation Prioritization

Hatchery Influence

Conservation Opportunities in RFE

Commercial Set Net Fishery

Masu, or cherry, salmon

Sakhalin Taimen

Logging

Oil and Gas

Poaching (subsistence)

Poaching (commercial)

IUCN’s mission and role

IUCN is committed to reversing declining biodiversity trend by 2010

Red List tracks status of species using a variety of criteria

IUCN Salmonid Specialist Group

General approach

Reach consensus on units for listing following IUCN guidelines (global population and subpopulations)

Assemble relevant data and apply IUCN criteria Estimate risk of extinction, add to IUCN Red List Progress to date:

Sakhalin Taimen (added 2006) Sockeye salmon (submitted 2007) Chinook salmon (planned early 2008) Steelhead/coho/masu/chum/pink (by IUCN Barcelona

Congress, Fall 2008)

Range and Status:Sakhalin taimen - 2006 RL - Critically Endangered

Range and Status: Sockeye salmon

2008 RL

Key threats for sockeye salmon Practice of mixed-stock fishing Poor marine survival rates Global climate change, possibly linked to

increased incidence of disease Effect of enhancement is recognized, but

magnitude of effect remains uncertain In many specific cases, causes of decline are

unknown

RFE and Sustainable Salmon Fisheries Region of high salmon biodiversity with

generally intact habitat, limited hatchery influence

Appropriate fishing technology (set nets) Three key things to consider:

Identify and describe salmon biodiversity Develop a means to track trends (abundance and

productivity) Institute market incentives that controls fishing

pressure and protects habitat