Current Status of Knowledge, Data, and Research Efforts on Atlantic Salmon at Greenland: What Do We Have, What Do We Need, and What Should We Do Moving Forward?

Given the constraints of poor marine survival on stocks from North America and Southern Europe, the importance of this life history type to the overall productivity of these stocks, and the difficulty and associated expense of sampling Atlantic salmon in the ocean, the West Greenland fishery sampling program provides an excellent opportunity to conduct studies that further our understanding of this critical life stage. Before initiating future studies, however, it is prudent to review the past and ongoing studies to inform the development of an efficient future research plan based on data needs and gaps. It is also important to review the current sampling plan to evaluate if improvements can be made to maximize the efficiency of the effort. Finally, it is also important to develop protocols for historic data and sample use to ensure their availability into the future, as many new sampling techniques are sometimes destructive. If access is not properly managed, these important data resources could be lost. 2019 NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) NEFSC (Northeast Fisheries Science Center) Submitted https://doi.org/10.25923/wwrb-6y65 Public Domain 1863