Research Document - 2008/058

Assessment of the Recovery Potential for the Atlantic Salmon Designatable Unit for the Inner Bay of Fundy: Habitat Issues

By P.G. Amiro, J.C. Brazner, and J.L. Giorno

Abstract

The purpose of this Research Document is to provide background information on the key habitat issues affecting the recovery of the inner Bay of Fundy (iBoF) population of Atlantic salmon. It covers issues in the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the iBoF Atlantic salmon Recovery Potential Assessment (RPA) related to habitat requirements, extent, suitability, restoration, and allocation, and includes research recommendations related to habitat. Freshwater habitat requirements for iBoF salmon are reasonably well documented for approximately 50 rivers at a broad (macro) spatial scale (entire river), extensively documented for only for 22 of 32 rivers with known recreational fisheries at an intermediate (meso) spatial scale (reaches within rivers), and sparsely documented at a fine (micro) spatial scale (specific locations within reaches). Freshwater habitat inventories at the meso scale are only available from a single Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) sampling effort during the late 1990s. Marine habitat requirements are reasonably well documented for early marine periods, but virtually unknown for later marine periods. Habitat suitably in freshwater has been inferred from successful production of smolts that resulted from stocked juveniles. Suitability in the marine environment has been inferred, in part, from successful production of salmon by the salmon farming industry within the bay and also from sea surface temperatures and historical fisheries recaptures of tagged salmon. A key knowledge gap identified is that the temporal and spatial distribution of iBoF salmon in marine habitats is unknown after September. Barrier removal and fish passage improvements were the only extensive habitat restoration actions identified. Marine habitat research and habitat inventory for cumulative effects monitoring were recommended.

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