Research Document - 2014/035

Accuracy and Utility of the Atlantic Salmon Licence Stub (Angler Log) Return Program in Newfoundland and Labrador

By G. Veinott and N. Cochrane

Abstract

The accuracy of the licence stub program is dependent on a high level of compliance by anglers. At the population level the uncertainty in the estimate of average harvest per angler is acceptable. Other population level metrics obtained from the data such as number of released fish and effort are likely estimated with similar margins-of-error and confidence. On a river by river basis the estimated number of harvested fish becomes less certain as fewer anglers submit river specific returns or are polled during a telephone survey. DFO Science and resource managers need to determine what level of risk is acceptable. There is little doubt that the licence stub program is useful. The data is used for multiple purposes including annual stock assessments, to meet international obligations, and to evaluate the impact of management measures such as implementation of the River Classification System. The licence stub program contains demographic and catch data that may be valuable to the fishing industry such as the origin of anglers fishing different rivers, rivers with the highest catch per unit effort, and rivers with the highest catch of large fish. It may also be possible to expand the number of rivers upon which stock assessments are carried out based on the licence stub data.

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