West Greenland Sampling Programme
West Greenland Sampling Programme
An important Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) mixed-stock fishery exists off the western coast of Greenland. This fishery takes primarily one-sea-winter (1SW) North American and European origin salmon that would potentially return to natal waters as mature two-sea-winter (2SW) spawning adults or older. Effective management of the resource on both continents requires annual collection of accurate landings data, continent of origin assignments and biological characteristics data to assess the impact of the fishery on the contributing stock complexes. Data collected during the fishery are also required for use in assessment models to predict pre-fishery abundance of North American and European stocks and to provide fishery managers with catch options required for setting harvest regulations for this mixed-stock fishery.
Since 1969, a co-ordinated international sampling programme has been undertaken to obtain biological samples from this fishery. From 1969-1981, research vessels were used to obtain samples. Since 1982, international teams of samplers have been deployed throughout Greenland to obtain samples from fish processing plants (when a commercial fishery was allowed), local markets or other vendors from individual communities where Atlantic salmon were being landed. The focus of this sampling programme was to collect biological samples and associated data on the catch. Originally, length, weight and scale samples were collected and individuals were scanned for fin clips, or external / internal tags. The sampling programme has continually evolved, and, currently, tissue samples are also taken for genetic analysis. In addition, it has been possible to collect samples for ongoing international collaborations investigating the marine ecology and persistent decline in salmon abundance in recent years.
Co-operation on the Sampling Programme
A statement of co-operation on the West Greenland Fishery Sampling Programme is agreed annually, so that this work can continue. These statements can be found under the Annual Meeting Papers for the West Greenland Commission
Results of the West Greenland Sampling Programme
Sheehan, T.F., Brown, B., Ellingson, B., Josset, Q., Maxwell, H., Ravn, M., Nygaard, R., et al. In prep. The International Sampling Program: Continent of Origin and Biological Characteristics of Atlantic Salmon Collected at West Greenland in 2022. US Department of Commerce, Northeast Fisheries Science Centre Reference Documents.
Sheehan, T.F., Gargan, P., Kerr, B., Nevoux, M., Ravn, M., Nygaard, R., Bradbury, I.R., et al. In prep. The International Sampling Program: Continent of Origin and Biological Characteristics of Atlantic Salmon Collected at West Greenland in 2020 and 2021. US Department of Commerce, Northeast Fisheries Science Centre Reference Documents.
Sheehan, T.F., Bašić, T., Deschamps, D., Dugan, S., Lipsky, C., Millane, M., Tray, E., et al. 2021. The International Sampling Program: Continent of Origin and Biological Characteristics of Atlantic Salmon Collected at West Greenland in 2018. US Department of Commerce, Northeast Fisheries Science Centre Reference Documents. 21-05; 60 p.
Sheehan, T.F., Coyne, J., Davis, D.G., Deschamps, D., Haas-Castro, R., Quinn, P., Vaughn, L., et al. 2021. The International Sampling Program: Continent of Origin and Biological Characteristics of Atlantic Salmon Collected at West Greenland in 2019. US Department of Commerce, Northeast Fisheries Science Centre Reference Documents. 21-08; 63 p.
Sheehan, T.F., Barber, J., Dean, A., Deschamps, D., Gargan, P., Goulette, G., Maxwell, H., et al. 2019. The International sampling program: Continent of origin and biological characteristics of Atlantic salmon collected at West Greenland in 2017. US Department of Commerce, Northeast Fisheries Science Centre Reference Documents. 19-12; 44 p.
Sheehan, T.F., Deschamps, D., Downie, H., Hawkes, J., McAuliffe, M., Millane, M., Sims, K., et al. 2018. The international sampling program: Continent of origin and biological characteristics of Atlantic salmon collected in West Greenland in 2016. NEFSC Ref Doc 18-15; 29 p. Available from: National Marine Fisheries Service, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026.
Sheehan, T.F., Davison, P., Deschamps, D., Drumm, A., Millane, M., Morgan, T., Music, P., et al. 2017. The international sampling program: Continent of origin and biological characteristics of Atlantic salmon collected at West Greenland in 2015. US Department of Commerce, Northeast Fisheries Science Centre Reference Documents. 17-13; 27 p.
Sheehan, T.F., Belleni, L, Coghlan, B., Deschamps, D., Haas-Castro, R., Mee, D., Thomas, K., et al. 2015. The International Sampling Program: Continent of Origin and Biological Characteristics of Atlantic Salmon Collected at West Greenland in 2014. US Department of Commerce, Northeast Fisheries Science Centre Reference Documents 15-23; 33 p.
Sheehan, T.F., Deschamps, D., Trinko Lake, T., McKelvey, S., Thomas, K., Toms, S., Nygaard, R., et al. 2015. The International Sampling Program: Continent of Origin and Biological Characteristics of Atlantic Salmon Collected at West Greenland in 2013. US Department of Commerce, Northeast Fisheries Science Centre Reference Documents 15-22; 27 p.
Sheehan, T.F., Assunção, M.G.L., Deschamps, D., Laughton, B., Ó Cuaig, M., Nygaard, R., King, T.L., et al. 2013. The International Sampling Program: Continent of Origin and Biological Characteristics of Atlantic Salmon Collected at West Greenland in 2012. US Department of Commerce, Northeast Fisheries Science Centre Reference Documents. 13-20; 25 p.
Sheehan, T.F., Assunção, M.G.L., Chisholm, N., Deschamps, D., Dixon, H., Renkawitz, M., Rogan, G., et al. 2012. The international sampling program, continent of origin and biological characteristics of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) collected at West Greenland in 2011. US Department of Commerce, Northeast Fisheries Science Centre Reference Documents 12-24; 27 p. Not online.