A presentation to the RFE Sustainable Fisheries Seminar November 2007

1. The Sakhalin Salmon Initiative:An Investment in the Future of Sakhalin’s Ecosystems, Economies and Societies A presentation to the RFE Sustainable Fisheries Seminar November 2007

2. The Sakhalin Salmon Initiative (SSI) A public-private partnership to: • Support conservation and sustainable use of wild salmon and their ecosystems • Build institutional capacity for conservation • Promote sustainable economic development on Sakhalin Island

3. Why Salmon?The Significance of Salmon for Sakhalin Economic: • Salmon fishery contributes 10.8% of Sakhalin Oblast’s GDP • Commercial fishing 10% of Sakhalin employment • 50% rural employment related to salmon Social: • 8% of animal protein (16% rural) • Cultural and indigenous icon Ecological: • Salmon are biological foundation of coastal ecosystems • Over 190 species depend on salmon

4. History of the Sakhalin Salmon Initiative

5. Front Page News

6. SSI Coordinating Committee • Institute of Marine Geology and Geophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences • Institute of Geology, Russian Academy of Sciences • Smirnikhovskii District Administration • Aniva Distract Administration • Okha District Administration • Nogliki District Administration • Uglegorsk District Administration • Sakhalin Oblast Administration • Department of Fisheries • Department of Forests and Protected Areas • Department of Education • Committee on Natural Resources • Committee for International, External Economic and Interregional Affairs • Sakhalin Oblast Duma • Sakhalin State University • SakhNIRO • Sakhrybvod • Sakhalin Environment Watch • Sakhalin Energy Investment Company • BP (observer) • Sakhalin Association of Commercial Fishermen • Council of Authorized Representatives of Sakhalin Indigenous Minorities • Foundation for Russian American Economic Cooperation

7. Major SSI ActivitiesFrom the SSI Conference Resolution Economic: • Improved value-added salmon processing • Industry certification • Ecotourism development • Continuing education for fishermen Environmental: • Sakhalin-wide salmonid monitoring program • Habitat protection • River restoration programs Social: • Children's and adult education and outreach • North Pacific indigenous peoples’ exchange program • Sakhalin Salmon festival SEIC CEO Ian Craig, Sakhalin Vice Governor Sheredekin and WSC President Guido Rahr

8. 2007 Activities:Launching Critical SSI Components SSI Office • Langri/Bolshaya Conservation • Sakhalin Salmon Monitoring Program • Salmon Education Small Grants • Watershed Councils

9. Watershed Council Network Okha Nogliki Smirnikh Uglegorsk Aniva

10. 2008 Work Plan: Sakhalin Salmon Initiative 2008 Budget and Work Plan to be confirmed by SSI Coordinating Committee: 1. Watershed Council Network Establishment: 23% 2008 budget 2. Support for Sustainable Fisheries: 19% budget 3. Langry-Bolshaya Conservation Project:: 17% budget 4. Salmon Center Education Project: 16% budget 5. Sakhalin Regional Monitoring Plan: 16% budget 6. Education Small Grant: 10% budget Work related to sustainable fisheries development: 42% 2008 work plan

11. SSI Sustainable Fisheries Initiative

12. Marine Stewardship Council Sakhalin Pre-Assessment • Sakhalin-specific concerns for MSC Certification • Heavy hatchery activity in the south; relatively hatchery-free, sparsely-populated north • Data must be received from three separate organizations • Few Sakhalin fisheries companies have attained the catch levels and processing quality necessary to sell products abroad • Sakhalin fisheries companies are not yet well-informed about the benefits of certification

13. Thank you for your attention! Contact Information: Nicole Portley Russia Far East Project Manager The Wild Salmon Center nportley@wildsalmoncenter.org 721 NW Ninth Ave, Suite 300 Portland, OR 97209, USA Telephone: (503) 222-1804 Fax: (503) 222-1805 www.wildsalmoncenter.org Dmitry Didenko Vice Director Sakhalin Salmon Initiative Center ano_ssi@mail.ru 49 Kommunistichesky Prospekt Office 304, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Telephone/Fax: 8 (4242) 46-21-37