Protection of the wild Atlantic salmon and

sustainable freshwater management in Latvia. Project Report/ 2001

Photo: Daugava River Museum, Salmon Fishermen at Krustpils in the beginning of the 20th century.

2002/WWF Latvia

Towards the protection of the wild Atlantic salmon and sustainable freshwater

management in Latvia. Acknowledgements: WWF Latvia would like to express the special thanks to all parties involved the project implementation, providing the enormous input and energy for the realization of the common goals for the protection of the Latvian freshwater resources. The special acknowledgements are dedicated to donor Naturvårdsverket (Swedish Environmental Protection Agency) for financial support, WWF Sweden, to our coalition partners Latvian Anglers Association (LAA), The Friends of the Earth Latvia, which members devoted many hours for assisting to WWF Latvia. Also acknowledgements to Latvian Fishery Board, LIDO fast-food restaurant chain, Gauja National Park administration and inspectors, State Environmental Inspection rangers, Ministry of the Defence, Ministry of the Environmental Protection and Regional Development and many volunteers, who took active part in the campaign. The Coalition Partners:

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Latvia and its freshwater resources.

The one of the greatest riches of the Baltic Sea is a wild Atlantic salmon. Recently (e.g. 20-30 years ago), the salmon population in the Baltic Sea consisted mainly of the naturally spawned salmon. Now it forms only 10% of the whole Baltic Sea salmon population. The natural spawning in the catchment area is almost extinct. There are three main rivers on the Eastern coast of the Baltic Sea, namely the Gauja, Salaca, Venta and its tributaries, where natural spawning still exists. It is considered to be the only rivers in the whole Baltic Sea region, where still wild Baltic salmon come to spawn in the autumn (October-November).

The Wild Atlantic Salmon population in Latvia (2000)

Uknown status55%

Vulnerable9%

Healthy9%

Endangered

18% Extinct9%

The status of the wild Atlantic salmon,WWF, 2001

A totally 12,400 rivers flow through Latvia, with a total length of 38,000 km. Latvia is one of the countries in the Baltic Sea region where the wild Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) spawning sites have been preserved and healthy populations have survived. But every autumn the number of the wild salmon arriving into rivers is decreasing. For example, it is estimated that only 300-400 pairs of the wild salmon spawn in the Latvian rivers. The euthrophication, M74, hyperbolic salmon fishing quotas in the Baltic Sea countries, floating fishing nets in the coastal waters and river deltas influence the Baltic salmon existence in the Baltic Sea, determining also of the numbers of the fish returning for spawning. In Latvia the most damaging process for survival of the wild salmon population is threefold based on the current social economical conditions in the country: 1) Poor law enforcement or its ignorance, control and monitoring of the existing nature

conservation legislation, causing uncontrolled Illegal fishing during the spawning in the rivers and the coastal waters;

2) Existence of the perverse subsidies for small hydroelectric power stations (HES), causing the damage for freshwater ecosystems and migratory species.

3) Poor public awareness and capacity about sustainable freshwater management and resources.

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The Project description: This project was launched in autumn 2001. The wild Atlantic salmon was selected as a symbol for this project. Besides, this was the first WWF Latvia project, which dealt with freshwater issues in Latvia. The overall goal of the project was: To reverse and to stop the degradation of Latvian freshwater resources. The Project Objectives: The main objectives of the project were following:

1. Protect the wild Atlantic salmon spawning areas in close cooperation with state authorities, building their capacity

2. Ensure the public support and active participation in safeguarding and monitoring the wild salmon in rivers.

3. Raising of public awareness and capacity: a) Related to protection of the wild Atlantic salmon; b) Related to unsustainable use of the freshwater resources (construction of

the small hydropower stations on Latvian salmonoid rivers) 4. “Greening” the existing legislation to improve the conservation of the wild salmon

and prevent rivers from rapid construction of the small HES’s. Outputs:

1. Protection of wild Atlantic salmon spawning areas

The salmon protection activities were organized to support the state authorities and involve local inhabitants, municipalities of the river basins to protect the wild salmon spawning areas as well as gain a voluntarily participation in the monitoring and safeguarding during spawning period.

The signing ceremony of the Coalition agreement and press conference at WWF Latvia office

1) On August 30, 2002 WWF Latvia signed official coalition agreement with Latvian Anglers Association (LAA) (uniting 23 organizations with more than 200 000 members) and Friends of the Earth Latvia for joint action to protect wild salmon in Latvian rivers. It was the first ever coalition of the environmental organizations established in Latvia for a common goal. The ceremony of the coalition agreement signing was widely and positively reflected in the various mass media.

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2) Safeguarding campaign for the wild Atlantic salmon spawning places was

launched in all country including the main wild salmon spawning rivers Salaca, Gauja, Venta, Irbe and its tributaries from October 15 till November 15, 2001. Besides the representatives of the coalition and state authorities, approximately 250 volunteers were involved in this action.

3) The Agreement between the Coalition and the Ministry of Defence was signed

and a special military task force squad consisting of 20 national guards was assigned for the patrolling activities, safeguarding the spawning places and for immediate operations to arrest illegal fishermen. The action plan called “Salmon trail” was coordinated by WWF Latvia and patrolling activities were mostly made during the night time covering the remote areas.

In total, during the spawning season there were spent more than 1560 man-hours near the rivers patrolling and removing illegal nets, fish boxes, etc.

Latvian national guards together with inspectors cutting the illegal fishnets 2. Ensuring public support and participation in safeguarding and monitoring wild salmon in rivers. The aim of the component was to ensure active involvement of the NGOs in supporting and monitoring the State Environmental Inspection (SEI) and Regional Environmental Board (REB) work. Due to insufficient financial support, they are not able effectively fight against illegal fishing and sometimes inspectors of these authorities are also involved in the illegal activities.

1) The coalition volunteers from WWF Latvia and LAA were assisting and supporting state inspectors by giving the hot information about illegal fishermen activities. The information was provided through WWF Latvia, which served as coordination centre for the campaign. Regular phone calls were received from the regions and accordingly information was directed to react and coordinate the action.

2) The regular campaign results were compiled and updates were provided to mass media weekly, including Internet discussion portals (Delfi, Apollo).

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During one month 168 illegal nets, 35 fish boxes (traps), 6 fish forks and 5 electro-fishing sets were confiscated. The total amount of penalties collected by state authorities constituted approx. 1720 Ls (3000 USD). Two criminal cases were launched.

Illegaly caught salmon. Environmental Inspection inspectors at work, taking out illegal salmon nets in the Salaca River .

3. Creation and building of public awareness and capacity The aim of this component was to ensure the dissemination of the information to the general public, which lack comprehensive information and knowledge about the wild salmon biology and its protection, sustainable use of the freshwater resources as well as current situation with freshwater conservation. 1) Public activities organized by WWF Latvia related to protection of the wild Atlantic salmon.

a) Informative campaigns aiming at awareness building and education about the wild salmon conservation problems were held at Sigulda, the centre of the Gauja National Park (GNP) during all the campaign. The special stand was made depicting the brief information about the salmon biology and its protection. The stand was placed at GNP info centre during working days, but in the weekends it was moved to the Gauja River Bridge, which is a famous salmon spawning observation place. Every weekend WWF Latvia volunteers were present on the bridge in the panda costume, distributing the materials. In October thousands of people were visiting Sigulda.

WWF Latvia public campaign at Sigulda. Under this bridge wild salmon is spawning, serving as good public attraction place.

b) During the campaign, approx. 26 different articles about wild salmon campaign and different actions within it were published in national and local newspapers. During press briefings journalists were informed about the results of different campaigns activities.

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c) Three talk shows called “What happens in Latvia?” in the main TV channels with presence of the Minister of Environment Protection and Regional Development and Parliament members were organized.

d) Four open discussions about campaign were held at state radio.

e) The WWF Latvia orientation competition “Salmon Cup 2001” was organized to

involve people, who are active in outdoor sports. The aim of “Salmon Cup 2001” was to provide information about wild salmon as well as to ensure the protection of the spawning salmon in Amata River.

f) Cooperation was made with LIDO fast-food restaurant chain, which have 20 000

daily visitors, providing the information not to buy cheap illegally caught salmon. g) Three different information leaflets were published and distributed:

- Leaflet “Once upon a time” about wild salmon biology, population status and threats; - Informative card with telephone numbers for every river basin state authority responsible for control of the illegal fishing and fishing legislation regarding the salmon’s conservation and limitations; - Leaflet about damages of small hydropower stations, compiled from official state documents (Biodiversity Action Program, Habitat and Species Law etc.). All leaflets (approx. 25 000) were distributed through anglers’ shops, LAA, LIDO restaurants. Extracts were published in the local and state newspapers, magazines and during public awareness campaigns. 2. Campaigns related to unsustainable use of the freshwater resources (construction of the small hydropower stations (HES) on Latvian salmonoid rivers).

Cover pages of leaflets published during campaign

This component was especially focused on the one of the most vulnerable issues of the unsustainable management of the freshwater resources- damming the rivers. Currently, there are already 103 small hydropower stations in Latvia. And according to the development plans, it is expected approx. 500 to be built more. During the campaign the following activities took place: a) Around 15 different articles about damages caused by small hydropower plants

were published in the local and national newspapers. This caused the enormous public response, because the construction and operation of the HES are supported by the “Law of the Energy” (40 Art. 1 paragraph), providing perverse subsidies for the electricity production from other electricity users.

b) WWF Latvia compiled information for some cases regarding the violation of the

existing environmental legislation on the rivers, where construction of HES is not allowed and where during the construction sensitive habitats were destroyed

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(rapids, old riverbeds transformed, rivers degradated, etc.). Later, thanks to wide public discussions and information published in the newspapers, the chairman of the Regional Environmental Board resigned due to ineffective work.

c) WWF Latvia prepared the response paper to the Environmental Impact Assessment

Plan (EIA) for Staicele HES construction on the Salaca River, which was prepared ignoring the important nature conservation aspects. The Salaca River is the largest wild Salmon River in the Baltic and holding the healthiest population of salmon, besides it is Latvian Salmon Index River (HELCOM). The paper contained comprehensive description about the state legislation and International obligations, which by building of HES would be totally ignored. In September 2001, the Minister of the MEPRD postponed the further development on the findings of the EIA. And the damming of the Salaca River was stopped.

d) The coalition in close cooperation with “Coalition for Clean Baltic” organized a two

day seminar “Small HES-threats and advantages” in November. Different stakeholders from Sweden, Finland and Lithuania attended the seminar to share opinions about the sustainable freshwater management. The participants from other countries were positively surprised about the progress reached regarding the mobilization of the public support and visible results in the protection of the river ecosystems in Latvia and expressed the wish to learn from our experience.

Greening the existing legislation This component was crucial for the campaign in order to show the strength of the environmental NGO’s coalition. The restrictions for the construction of the small HES and river ecosystem protection were selected as focal points. Therefore, the Greening of existing legislation is one of the key directions were environmental NGO’s can show their capacity and lobby the government authorities in the legislation adoption process, making it more transparent and ensuring the public participation.

Two salmonoid rivers Tirza and Koja after the construction of small hydroelectric plants. On the first photo the old riverbed dredged, destroying natural habitats like rapids. In the second photo old riverbed is almost dry.

Both activities are illegal according to national legislation.

1) During the campaign, the Coalition in cooperation with official state representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture (MA) and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (MEPRD), Latvian Fishery Board elaborated the list of the rivers (214 rivers), where building of

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new hydropower plants will be prohibited forever. These rivers are especially important for salmonoid fish. The Prime Minister supervised the preparation process and regular consultations were made. The owners of the small hydropower stations and the Ministry of Economy opposed the elaboration of the river list and tried to reduce the number of the rivers selected. On January 15, 2002, the Cabinet of the Ministers approved the “List of the rivers on which any construction is prohibited”. This can be characterized as the first real success to improve the existing legislation. Besides due to the wide public support these amendments were made in very short period, which can be characterized as exceptional case.

2) WWF Latvia also launched the consultations for the fundamental changes

in the regulations of “Voluntary inspectors” what must be revised and adopted for the current situation in order to improve the controlling and monitoring of Latvian freshwater resources.

3) The amendments for the “Law on Commercial Fisheries” were worked out in

close cooperation with Latvian Fishery Board. The amendments cover such issues as commercial fishing with nets, fish boxes (traps), etc. should be closed in all public waters on Saturdays and Sundays.

4) Independent advisory working group at the Ministry of Agriculture was

established. This group consists from representatives of NGO’s, Ministry of Environment, State Environmental Inspection, Ministry of Agriculture, Latvian Fishery Board and scientists. The main tasks of the working group will be preparation of the amendments for different rules and laws concerning protection and sustainable use of freshwater resources.

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Summary of the Project Results and Impacts.

The campaign was finished in the middle of the December 2001. The official closing ceremony was widely attended by the press representatives, state officials and participants of the campaign. The coalition representatives awarded the most active partners and gave comprehensive presentations about the results of the salmon campaign and its future activities. It was decided that campaign should be continued, focusing on the sustainable freshwater management issues. The main findings of the campaign are very important. These issues will be addressed in the future work to improve the freshwater conservation in Latvia. During the campaign various new issues were identified, where wide public, state authorities and other interest group support is necessary to reach positive changes in the current freshwater management.

The Minister of the Defence (on the right) is giving speech at the Salmon Campaign closing ceremony. The main results of the campaign are as follows:

1) WWF Latvia signed official coalition agreement with Latvian Anglers Association

(LAA) (uniting 23 organizations with more than 200 000 members) and Friends of the Earth Latvia for joint action to protect wild salmon in Latvian rivers.

2) Safeguarding of the wild Atlantic salmon spawning places in all country,

including the main wild salmon spawning rivers Salaca, Gauja, Venta, Irbe and its tributaries.

3) Wide involvement of the representatives of the coalition and state authorities as

well as approx. 250 volunteers and students.

4) The Agreement between the Coalition and the Ministry of Defense signed. Special military task force squad consisting of 20 national guards was assigned for the patrolling activities, safeguarding the spawning places and for immediate operations to arrest illegal fishermen. The action plan was called “Salmon trail”.

5) In total, during the spawning season there were spent more than 1560 man-

hours near the rivers patrolling and removing illegal nets, fish boxes, etc.

6) 168 illegal nets, 35 fish boxes (traps), 6 fish forks and 5 electro-fishing sets were confiscated. The total amount of penalties collected by state authorities constituted approx. 1720 Ls (3000 USD). Two criminal cases were launched.

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7) The coalition volunteers from WWF Latvia and LAA assisted and supported state inspectors by giving the hot information about illegal fishermen activities.

8) Informative campaigns aiming at awareness building and education about the

wild salmon conservation problems were held at Sigulda, the center of the Gauja National Park (GNP).

9) Approx. 26 different articles about wild salmon campaign and 15 about small

hydropower plants were published in national and local newspapers. During press briefings journalists were informed about the results of different campaigns activities.

10) Three talk shows called “What happens in Latvia?” in the main TV channels

with presence of the Minister of Environment Protection and Regional Development and Parliament members were organized.

11) Information disseminated in the internet discussion portals (Delfi, Apollo)

12) Four open discussions about campaign were held at the state radio.

13) The WWF Latvia orienteering competition “Salmon Cup 2001” was organized to

involve people, who are active in outdoor sports.

14) Cooperation was made with LIDO fast-food restaurant chain, which have 20 000 daily visitors, providing the information not to buy cheap illegally caught salmon.

15) Three different information leaflets in amount of approx. 25 000 were published

and distributed.

16) WWF Latvia compiled information for some cases regarding the violation of the existing environmental legislation on the rivers.

17) The coalition in close cooperation with “Coalition for Clean Baltic” organized a

two day seminar “Small HES-threats and advantages” in November.

18) WWF Latvia found that many of small hydropower stations were built without a real environmental impact assessment and with visible violation of already existing legislation.

19) WWF Latvia submitted the requests for additional information from Regional

Environmental Boards about existing hydropower plants to identify illegal construction cases. This information needs to be compiled in order to improve river basin management activities.

20) WWF Latvia prepared the response paper to the Environmental Impact

Assessment Plan (EIA) for Staicele HES construction on the Salaca River. The damming of the Salaca River was stopped.

21) The amendments for the “Law on Commercial Fisheries” were worked out in

close cooperation with Latvian Fishery Board.

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Impacts:

1) The Cabinet of the Ministers approved the “List of the rivers on which any construction is prohibited” in January 2002. Totally protecting 220 rivers from damming in future.

Panda is interviewed by the television during the demonstration at the Cabinet of the Ministers.

2) Independent advisory working group at the Ministry of Agriculture was established. 3) WWF Latvia launched the consultations for the fundamental changes in the

regulations of “Voluntary inspectors”

4) Raised public capacity regarding the freshwater conservation and improvement of the existing nature conservation monitoring and control system by the state authorities.

5) Increased public awareness about the issues of the protection of the wild Atlantic

salmon and sustainable river management in Latvia.

6) Capacity of the Coalition built and new cooperation activities determined in order to improve sustainable freshwater management in Latvia.

Conclusions Overall the project reached its objectives and it can be characterized as the first public campaign, when in such short period visible results were reached: Public participation: The campaign defined that public support is essential to reach the set goals. So far public has been left out of the discussions regarding the environmental issues. Therefore, public can play important role supporting coalition activities and effectively influencing decision makers. The specific campaigns can help and inform public about different issues and state response to it. The campaign also proved that general public lacks comprehensive information. The specific messages and target audiences i.e. fishermen, river basin inhabitants, local municipalities, consumers shall be selected. Legislation: During the campaign new gaps were identified in the existing freshwater legislation and management. For example, there is no overall freshwater legislation at place i.e. umbrella law for water, but many regulations cover the same issues. Therefore, there is urgent need to modify the current legislation at a national level also including EU recommendations (Water Framework Directive). This process has to be transparent involving all stakeholders. Policy advocacy is the main future task for WWF Latvia in the freshwater program.

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Capacity building: This campaign was the first activity, where different environmental NGOs were united for common goal. It showed that there are still missing overall coordinated action, communications and vision. Capacity of the NGOs shall be strengthened by active involvement in decision-making process and its implementation, identifying the root cases of the current freshwater issues. The NGO involvement should be continuous and so far the NGOs lack capacity to take active part in the promoting freshwater conservation in Latvia. The positive results of the campaign proved that in future NGO capacity should be promoted by coordinated activities, thus simultaneously strengthening their internal capacity and role in the society by gaining additional support and influence. The similar situation is also with state institutions; usually they lack the capacity to find the common ground with NGOs and general public. The policy work needs to be formulated to gain wide support and understanding of the current changes, otherwise their decision sometimes overlap and are short-term. The capacity and public awareness building should be important tools for future activities in the freshwater program. The campaign proved that general public lacks a comprehensive knowledge and information about freshwater issues in Latvia. Active communication reduced the number of the registered illegal fishing cases and restrained illegal fishermen to visit rivers during the salmon spawning. Lobbying and advocacy Lobbying should be improved in the future campaigns. Public plays important role and WWF with partner organisations needs to launch active work in the freshwater conservation. The “Greening” the existing legislation should be continued because during the campaign new gaps in legal acts were identified. Alliances The Campaign proved that NGO’s could play an important role if they unite in well-organized alliances. The Partnerships among different NGO`s should be strengthened and continued. This campaign depicted that only common action can reach the best results. Future Directions While some important changes have been made towards the sustainable use of the freshwater resources in Latvia, many norms and institutional structures still impede the sustainable use of freshwater resources. Avalanche like building of new small hydropower plants is one of the biggest threats for salmonoid rivers in Latvia. Many protected habitats such as rapids and fast flows are destroyed forever. During the campaign, WWF Latvia identified six main directions, which would be selected as priorities for future actions in order to stop the degradation of wild Atlantic salmon population and unsustainable use of freshwater resources:

1. Work with public and state authorities in order to reduce the gaps in the existing freshwater legislation.

2. Public awareness building concerning sustainable use of the freshwater resources-

stop the illegal fishing of the spawning fish species, control and monitoring of the fishing, damming of rivers.

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3. The “greening” existing small hydropower plants (fish passages, artificial rapids, annual taxes applied for restoration of the fish resources etc.).

4. The changes applying to fishery policy for the wild Atlantic salmon in the Baltic Sea

and the river deltas.

5. The issues of the sustainable river basin management addressed in close relationship with EU policy instruments i.e. Water Framework Directive and NGO involvement.

6. The case study of the small hydropower plants and their legality.

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