Our mission is to protect the world’s salmon strongholds.
Protecting the World's Largest Salmonid
Location: Siberian taimen, Mongolia
Photo Credit: Clemens Ratschan
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Location: Mongolia monitoring
Photo Credit: Andrew Burr
Our Goal
Advancing Taimen Science and Policy
Meet Taimen
Photo Credit: Keith Rose
Where the "River Tigers" Swim
Threats to Taimen in Mongolia
What We’re Doing Daily
To help taimen thrive around the world, we focus on three key types of work.
Convening the Experts
We’re uniting scientists, policy leaders, and conservationists to protect taimen: a key Eurasian salmon cousin.
Sharing Salmon Science
From tracking river temperatures to mapping DNA, we’re building datasets to advance taimen conservation science.
Shaping National Policy
In Mongolia, we’re making sure that wild fish are part of conversations on energy, fisheries, and climate change.
The Impact Globally
Work to save these “river tigers” has far-reaching impacts.
Outdoor Recreation
Mongolia’s nascent recreational fishing industry is boosting the growth of local, nature-based jobs.
Protected Areas
In Russia, a growing park network protects salmon, taimen, and other iconic species. In Mongolia, a drive to protect stronghold rivers can also help support the nation’s 30 by 30 goals.
Culture
In Mongolia, taimen are revered by many. Stewardship of this ancient icon ensures that important traditions live on.
International Taimen Initiative Project Timeline
Explore the biggest wins and key moments since our work began.
What's Next
Making taimen a research and policy priority in Mongolia and beyond
Through field research and international collaboration, we aim to advance national conversations across Eurasia to better protect the world’s largest salmonid.
2025
Wild Salmon Center hires Dr. Saulyegul Avlyush to head Mongolia program
In February, our Senior Mongolia Consultant convenes experts from across Mongolia for the first dedicated talks about national fisheries and fish populations in 61 years
2024
Mongolian scientists visit the United States
We host the first of several exchanges for Mongolian scholars and policymakers focused on North American hydropower development, wild fish policies, and conservation approaches.
2023
International taimen experts convene in Japan
In Hokkaido, Japan, we host leading scientists from across the globe for the first-ever meeting of our International Taimen Initiative.
2023
The Taimen Fund closes, entrusts work to Wild Salmon Center
The Mongolia-focused conservation organization’s plans for closure include funding for our work to protect vulnerable taimen.
2020
Building a scientific foundation for taimen conservation
Wild Salmon Center and local partners launch field research projects in Mongolia to study the diet, abundance, spawning behavior, and water quality needs of this cherished megafish.
News From Mongolian Rivers
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