We are delighted to welcome Dr Cathal Gallagher as he takes up his new role as Secretary of NASCO today.
Cathal is excited to lead the Organization as it implements its Ten-Year Strategy to achieve its Vision, namely that ‘the decline of wild Atlantic salmon has reversed and populations are recovering to healthy and resilient levels across their range’.
Speaking about the importance of NASCO’s Vision and Mission, Cathal says ‘Given the current status of Atlantic salmon populations and the species’ range, conservation efforts will require urgent, focused, collaborative efforts over the coming years. Transformative actions directed at the protection, conservation and restoration of wild Atlantic salmon throughout the species range now will give us a strong platform to build on for the next ten years’.
Cathal comes to NASCO after 18 years as Head of Research in Inland Fisheries Ireland where he was heavily involved in many areas of NASCO’s work, including chairing the Implementation Plan / Annual Progress Report Review Group since 2019 and participating in the Working Group on the Future of NASCO, which developed NASCO’s Ten-Year Strategy.
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Dr Emma Hatfield, the former Secretary, for her hard work over the last eight years and wish her well in her next endeavours.