Research Document - 2012/090
The status of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) on Prince Edward Island (SFA 17) in 2011
By D.K. Cairns, R.E. MacFarlane, D.L. Guignion, and T. Dupuis
Abstract
Prince Edward Island, Salmon Fishing Area 17, is part of the southern Gulf - Gaspé Designatable Unit which COSEWIC assessed as Special Concern in 2010. Atlantic salmon probably occupied about 71 PEI rivers at the time of European contact. Rivers containing salmon fell to 28 in 2000-2002 and to 22 in 2007-2008, with salmon presence detected in one additional river in 2011. Original salmon populations were largely late-run and multi-sea-winter, but stocking fish of mainland origin has led to early run components in seven PEI rivers. Reported harvest in aboriginal Food, Social, and Ceremonial fisheries were 0-1 fish per year in 2009-2011 (only one of two licenced groups provided harvest information in 2011). Recreational salmon angling is permitted in all PEI rivers, but salmon in small rivers receive de facto protection from angling because seasons close on 15 September, before fish return to these rivers. Salmon fishing is permitted up to 31 October in parts of larger rivers which have early-run components. Recreational angling has been catch-and-release since 2009. Estimated mortalities in the angling fishery due to catch-and-release mortality (assumed to be 3%) were 1-4 fish per year in 2009-2011. Angler card surveys indicate that fishing effort, small salmon kept, and small and large salmon released have followed declining trends since the mid-1990s. Total conservation requirements for current salmon rivers (4,668,586 eggs) are based on all habitat types in these rivers, including habitat blocked by dams. Egg deposition was estimated from historic biological characteristics and redd counts, using a redd:female spawner ratio (3.357) measured in a single year in the West River, PEI. Total estimated egg deposition in current salmon rivers is 67.7% of requirements for these rivers. Estimated deposition exceeds requirements in six rivers. Total conservation requirements for all 71 probable current and historic salmon rivers on PEI are 10,565,273 eggs. Estimated total egg deposition is 29.9% of this total. Atlantic salmon on PEI are negatively affected by sedimentation, blockages to upstream passage due to artificial and beaver dams, excessive water temperatures and low dissolved oxygen levels caused by some dams, pesticide inputs, and competition with rainbow trout. Fishing mortality from aboriginal fishery harvests and from angling is currently low and probably has little impact on salmon populations. Major sources of uncertainty in this assessment include low sample sizes in angler card surveys, use of historic rather than current data on biological characteristics, and use of a redd:spawner ratio measured at only one site in one year.
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