New Guidance on Stocking Atlantic Salmon

A NASCO Working Group with expertise in stocking conducted a review of recent evidence into the pros and cons of Atlantic Salmon stocking programmes and various stocking methods. In its report, it was noted that where integrity (i.e. evolutionary and ecological naturalness) of the wild stock is a management priority, stocking should not be considered as a remediation measure.

However, there are some cases in which stocking may be beneficial, such as where the local wild Atlantic salmon population has been lost or is at immediate risk of being lost. The Working Group developed Stocking Guidelines based on its review and these were adopted by NASCO Council at the 2024 Annual Meeting. These Guidelines can be found here.

The Working Group has also been asked to develop and recommend updated guidelines on both the use of stock rebuilding programmes and the scientific and management protocols for gene-banking and these will be considered at the 2025 Annual Meeting.