North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization | est 1984

SALSEA-Merge

The SALSEA-Merge Project

SALSEA-Merge was an ambitious, three year, €5.5 million scientific project to investigate the migration and distribution of salmon in the North-East Atlantic. The project was supported by the European Commission under the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological development. Funding was also provided by the Partner organisations, the Total Foundation and the Atlantic Salmon Trust. SALSEA-Merge was officially launched on the 16 May 2008 in Killybegs, Ireland.

Vision and Objectives

SALSEA-Merge delivered innovation in the areas of: genetic stock identification techniques; new genetic marker development; fine scale estimates of growth on a weekly and monthly basis; the use of novel high seas pelagic trawling technology; individual stock-linked estimates of food and feeding patterns; and novel stock specific migration and distribution models. 

The project merged genetic and ecological investigations, to advance understanding of stock specific migration and distribution patterns and overall ecology of the marine life of Atlantic salmon and delivered insights into the factors resulting in increases in marine mortality. 

Publications