Proceedings 2011/052

Proceedings of the Newfoundland and Labrador Region Salmonid Stock Assessment Meeting; November 2-3, 2010

Chairperson: C. Bourgeois
Editor: R.J. Poole

Summary

The 18th annual Salmonid Stock Assessment Meeting for the Newfoundland and Labrador Region was held in St. John’s, NL, November 2-3, 2010, at the Battery Hotel. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) science staff provided a regional overview of Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) stocks based on scientific data compiled during 2010, as well as, updates of the 2009 data. Marine conditions off Newfoundland and Labrador in 2010 were provided by the Biological and Physical Oceanography Section of DFO. A presentation on the historical basis for determining reference levels was given in the context of the conservation of the Atlantic salmon resource. Annual returns of adult Atlantic salmon and trends in returns were assessed on 13 rivers in insular Newfoundland and three in Labrador. From these assessments the percent conservation egg deposition achieved on each river was determined and used as an indicator of stock status. Seven of the 16 (44 %) Atlantic salmon stocks assessed in Newfoundland and Labrador achieved the conservation egg limit. Smolt production estimates were presented for five rivers in Newfoundland and one in Labrador and used along with adult returns to estimate at sea survival. Harvests of salmonids in Labrador in 2009 were presented for resident and aboriginal food fisheries and recreational angling. Three more points of interest added to the agenda were research on Ten Mile Lake by the Provincial Department of Environment and Conservation, an update from the Bay St. George and Harry’s River Salmon Working Groups, and an update from the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) on Atlantic salmon. The following proceedings report summarizes the presentations and provides recommendations and comments by participants. An account of the general status of Atlantic salmon stocks in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2010 is given. The meetings Terms of Reference, agenda, a list of attendees, and detailed summary sheets for the various salmon stocks assessed are appended.

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