Eric Stevenson recognized with top salmon conservation award

T.B. ‘Happy’ Fraser award honours outstanding commitment to wild salmon
May 2, 2018

Eric Stevenson recognized with top salmon conservation award

Eric Stevenson (centre) received the T. B. (Happy) Fraser Conservation Award for Atlantic salmon conservation Tuesday evening. He is flanked by ASF President Bill Taylor (left) and Chairman of ASF (Canada) Alan Graham (right). Photo Neville Crabbe/ASF
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 2, 2018

Eric Stevenson recognized with top salmon conservation award


T.B. ‘Happy’ Fraser award honours outstanding commitment to wild salmon


TORONTO -
Eric Stevenson, a 17-year director of the Atlantic Salmon Federation (Canada), has been named this year’s recipient of the T.B. ‘Happy’ Fraser award, given annually for contributions to wild Atlantic salmon conservation at a national level.

The award was handed out by ASF (Canada) Chair Alan Graham and ASF President Bill Taylor at the National Club in Toronto last night. Directors from ASF (Canada) and ASF (U.S.) are gathered in the city for two days of strategic meetings that are intended to set a new course for wild salmon conservation in North America.

“Eric is a bright mind that has helped our organization immensely over nearly two decades of volunteer service,” said ASF President Bill Taylor. “He typifies the dedication shown by our entire board of directors to the cause of wild salmon and wild rivers.”

Stevenson has served as chair of ASF’s Investment and Finance committees. A financial executive based in Toronto, Eric has shown a lifelong commitment to many environmental causes, including leading the organization of ASF fundraising events in the city.

Currently, Eric co-chairs ASF’s Research and Environment Committee, overseeing a science team that has greatly expanded its budget and scope in recent years. For example, ASF researchers are launching new tracking programs in Newfoundland and Labrador rivers, Greenland, and the Labrador Sea in 2018, all while maintaining existing study sites in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Eric is an avid angler and enjoys returning annually to Quebec’s St-Jean River on the Gaspé Peninsula. In addition to his national level conservation work, he has been very active in the St-Jean watershed.

“Many people, like Eric, who are active in the conservation world have a special connection to one place, but quickly realize each river depends on the health of our environment overall,” said Alan Graham, ASF (Canada) chair. “It’s this broad perspective that has given ASF the strength and mandate to work on a national and international level.”

The T.B. ‘Happy’ Fraser award is ASF’s top Canadian honour. It has been given annually since 1975. Fraser was a past president and general manager of the Atlantic Salmon Association, a predecessor of ASF. He became one of the first people to sound the alarm about the Greenland commercial fishery which was taking more than 2,700 tonnes of wild Atlantic salmon in the early 1970s.

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For more information please contact:
Tom Moffatt - ASF Communications
asfweb@nbnet.nb.ca
(506) 529-1022

The Atlantic Salmon Federation was established in 1948 with the mission to conserve, protect, and restore wild Atlantic salmon throughout North America.

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