German event to energise European action for wild Atlantic salmon
At this year’s EWF Erlebniswelt Fliegenfischen fly fishing show in Germany on April 13 and 14, the Atlantic Salmon Trust is working with show organisers to host a weekend event centred around wild Atlantic salmon and how to restore them – Wild Salmon Without Borders. The EWF show is one of Europe’s most established and well attended fly fishing shows, attracting over 3,500 visitors annually.
Wild Atlantic salmon is a species in crisis across its North Atlantic range, and its numbers have declined by over 70% in the last 30 years. Some populations are now critically endangered. Wild Salmon Without Borders aims to gather individuals and organisations from across Europe to inspire greater cross-border collaboration and action for the species. It will include eminent speakers in the field of salmon conservation from across Europe, including the UK, Ireland, Norway, Iceland, Spain, France, Denmark and Germany, and is set to cover a range of important topics including habitat restoration, dam removal, and the effects of open pen salmon farming, with speakers set to join from the Atlantic Salmon Trust, North Atlantic Salmon Fund (NASF), World Fish Migration Foundation, Wanderfische ohne Grenzen, and other organisations.
In addition to talks and presentations, the event also seeks to highlight the cultural and spiritual importance of wild salmon to the peoples of Europe and is set to showcase a selection of powerful films and animations which draw attention to the salmon crisis. These include Patagonia’s latest film Laxaþjóð: A Salmon Nation which explores the effects of industrial salmon farming on wild Atlantic salmon in Iceland, BAFTA-nominated British animated film Wild Summon, and French animated short film Salmo which highlight many of the threats faced by the species.
It is hoped that EWF’s Wild Salmon Without Borders event will serve to energise wild Atlantic salmon restoration efforts across Europe.
Event Schedule
SATURDAY 13TH APRIL
MORNING
10:00 – Welcome to Wild Salmon Without Borders
Mark Bilsby, CEO Atlantic Salmon Trust
10:15 – What Salmon Need to Thrive: Cold Clean Water
Alison Baker, Atlantic Salmon Trust
10:30 – FILM: Cold Clean Water – The Project Deveron Story
Atlantic Salmon Trust.
10:45 – Atlantic Salmon in Germany – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
Stefan Ludwig, Wanderfische ohne Grenzen e. V. (NASF Deutschland).
11:15 – FILM: Salmo
An animated film by Paul Pajot.
11:30 – Removing Barriers to Fish Migration in Europe
Pao Fernández Garrido, World Fish Migration Foundation.
12:00 – FILM: Laxaþjóð | A Salmon Nation and discussion.
Patagonia.
12:45 – The fight against open net pen salmon farming in Iceland
Elvar Örn Fridriksson, NASF Iceland.
13:15 – Wild Salmon Connections: International Collaboration for Wild Salmon
Dr Wendy Kenyon, Atlantic Salmon Trust/Missing Salmon Alliance.
AFTERNOON
14:00 – It Started with a Dream – Fly Fishing and Nature Conservation
Imke Teuffel, Fario e. V.
14:30 – Panel Discussion and Q&A: Angling and Salmon Conservation
Klaus Frimor, Paddy McDonnell, Tom Brown, Thomas Knutsen.
15:15 – Can we save wild salmon and have a sustainable aquaculture industry for the future?
Nils Olav Gjone, Norske Lakseelver.
15:45 – Rehabilitation of Danish salmon stocks over the last 30 years – with success!
Gert Holdensgaard, Denmark’s Center for Vildlaks
16:15 – Assisting Migration Passage for Wild Atlantic Salmon
John Olav Oldren, River Manager – Verdal, Trondheimfjord
16:45 – FILM: Wild Summon
By Karni Arieli and Saul Freed. BAFTA-nominated and Oscar-shortlisted British animated film.
SUNDAY 14TH APRIL
MORNING
10:00 – Welcome to Wild Salmon Without Borders
Mark Bilsby, CEO Atlantic Salmon Trust.
10:15 – What Salmon Need to Thrive: Cold Clean Water
Alison Baker, Atlantic Salmon Trust
10:30 – FILM: Cold Clean Water – The Project Deveron Story
Atlantic Salmon Trust.
10:45 – Atlantic Salmon in Germany – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
Stefan Ludwig, Wanderfische ohne Grenzen e. V. (NASF Deutschland).
11:15 – Film: Salmo
An animated film by Paul Pajot.
11:30 – Assisting Migration Passage for Wild Atlantic Salmon
John Olav Oldren, River Manager – Verdal, Trondheimfjord
12:00 – FILM: Laxaþjóð | A Salmon Nation and discussion
Patagonia.
12:45 – The fight against open net pen salmon farming in Iceland
Elvar Örn Fridriksson, NASF Iceland.
13:15 – Wild Salmon Connections: International Collaboration for Wild Salmon
Dr Wendy Kenyon, Atlantic Salmon Trust/Missing Salmon Alliance.
AFTERNOON
14:00 – It Started with a Dream – Fly Fishing and Nature Conservation
Imke Teuffel, Fario e. V.
14:30 – Panel Discussion and Q&A: Angling and Salmon Conservation
Klaus Frimor, Paddy McDonnell, Tom Brown, Thomas Knutsen.
15:15 – Can we save wild salmon and have a sustainable aquaculture industry for the future?
Nils Olav Gjone, Norske Lakseelver.
15:45pm – FILM: Wild Summon
By Karni Arieli and Saul Freed. BAFTA-nominated and Oscar-shortlisted British animated film.
