NASCO Observers
NASCO Observers
NASCO seeks to operate in a transparent, inclusive and collaborative manner. Inter-Governmental Organizations, States not Party to the Convention, accredited Indigenous Peoples’ representatives and institutions (IPRIs) and accredited Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) may all be observers to NASCO. The Terms and Conditions governing observers have been updated in 2024 to support observers in named categories to attend NASCO meetings.
Terms and Conditions for Observers at NASCO Meetings
New Terms and Conditions for Observers at NASCO Meetings were agreed in 2024. These conditions apply to Inter-Governmental Organizations, States not Party to the Convention, accredited Indigenous Peoples’ representatives and institutions (IPRIs) and accredited Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).
Inter-Governmental Organizations
The following Inter-Governmental Organizations are invited to the NASCO Annual Meeting each year:
| European Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Advisor Commission (EIFAAC) |
| International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) |
| International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR) |
| International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) |
| North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission (NAMMCO) |
| North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission (NPAFC) |
| North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) |
| Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) |
| OSPAR Commission |
States Not Party to the Convention
These Terms and Conditions apply to representatives from States not Party to the Convention, with coastlines bordering the Convention Area as defined in Article I of the Convention, or those States not Party to the Convention, who are States of origin of Atlantic salmon, who prosecute fisheries for Atlantic salmon, and / or whose conservation and management activities are of interest to NASCO or vice versa.
Currently France (in respect of St Pierre and Miquelon), a State not Party to the Convention, is the only observer under this category that attends NASCO’s Annual Meetings.
Indigenous Peoples’ Representatives and Institutions
Indigenous Peoples’ representatives and institutions (IPRIs) is a new category of observer, established at the NASCO Annual Meeting in 2024. There are currently 4 IPRIs accredited as observers to NASCO.
The following IPRIs have accredited observer status to NASCO:
Non-Governmental Organizations
There are currently 39 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) accredited as observers to NASCO. In view of the new Terms and Conditions this list may change. The NGOs are represented by two Co-Chairs. The current Co-Chairs of NASCO’s accredited NGOs are:
- Nils Olav Gjone (Norske Lakseelver); and
- Robert Otto (Atlantic Salmon Federation, Canada).
The following NGOs have accredited observer status to NASCO:
Norges Jeger og Fiskerforbund (Norwegian Association of Hunters and Anglers)
Norske Lakseelver (Norwegian Salmon Rivers)