Mission

The mission of the World Salmon Forum is to transform the status quo in wild salmonid management. The WSF event and website will serve as a conduit and resource tool in order to bring together wild salmon conservation groups from around the world to advise each other on the policies and measures that will provide for the survival of these magnificent animals. Our presentations will rely on scientific information that transcends disciplinary silos and the diversity of successful strategies that further our collective mission. We will explore the place-based nature of functioning ecosystems through the lens of nationality, culture, and experience with the understanding that functioning ecosystems transcend political and economic boundaries. The event will culminate in a roundtable discussion where each organization will be able to offer those strategies that have worked and those that have not in their respective regions in the effort to expand our collective knowledge and purpose.

Wild Pacific and Atlantic salmon, steelhead, and sea trout are the outcome of the past 60 million years of evolution and now they are in trouble. The sheer number of humans and the scale of our impact on this planet have resulted in the dismantling of ecosystems associated with the loss of wild salmon, upon which humans and so many other species depend. Many cultures were formed by harmonious ecological relationships between man and salmon over thousands of years until the beginning of the Industrial Revolution which introduced a commodity-based culture. This widespread cultural shift has proven to be alarmingly effective at destroying key ecological relationships at scale.

A complete cultural resurgence is needed to replace this outdated commodity-based paradigm. During the past 50 years, in spite of conservation efforts funded by well-intended foundations and advocated by dedicated NGO’s from around the world, wild salmon populations continue down the road toward extinction.

The challenge to ensure a future for wild salmon is clearly resting on our shoulders. We must ask ourselves what remedies are available to us now, yet not deployed, and continue the search for those not yet discovered.