Science Advisory Report 2007/055

Stock Assessment of Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Salmon - 2007

Summary

Newfoundland and Labrador Region (SFAs 1-14B)

• Low marine survival since the late 1980’s continues to be the major factor affecting abundance of Atlantic salmon within the region.
• Within insular Newfoundland particularly low abundance of small salmon was noted in 2007 and 2001 however for large salmon particularly low abundance was noted in 2007 and the early 1990’s.
• Within Labrador abundance of small salmon has increased since 2004 but overall abundance of large salmon has remained particularly low since the late 1980’s.

Labrador (SFA 1-2 & 14B)

• In Labrador, returns of small salmon decreased or remained unchanged in 2007 compared to 2006 at all four counting facilities. The 2006 and 2007 index of abundance is below the 2005 level but above the moratorium mean.
• Numbers of large salmon declined for two rivers assessed and remained unchanged for two rivers in 2007 compared to 2006; also returns of large salmon are lower than prior to the closure of the commercial fishery. There is a concern with the low level of large salmon spawners in Labrador.
• Conservation requirements were met on 2 of 4 assessed rivers.
• In 2007, there was no change in returns (<10%) of small salmon in SFA 1 compared to 2006. However, small salmon returns increased over the previous 7 year mean. There was a decrease in returns of small salmon in SFA 2 compared to 2006 and when compared to previous year means at all three counting fences. (See Table 1)
• There were no changes in returns (<10%) of large salmon in SFA 1 compared to 2006. However, when compared to the previous 7 year mean, large salmon returns decreased. There was a decrease in returns of large salmon in SFA 2 compared to 2006 at two counting fences and no change in returns (<10%) at another counting fence. When compared to previous year means large salmon returns decreased at two counting fences and did not change (<10%) at another counting fence. Returns of large salmon still appear to be lower than prior to the closure of the commercial fishery. (See Table 1)
• Conservation spawning requirements for Labrador rivers have been defined as 190 eggs per 100 m² of fluvial habitat which is assumed to include pond habitat (Reddin et al. 2006).

Labrador SFA 1

• English River met conservation requirements for a second consecutive year.
• English River has met or exceeded conservation requirements for a second consecutive year of the nine years.

Labrador SFA 2

• Sand Hill River did not meet the conservation requirements in 2007 although it did in the previous three years out of a total of 13 years (1970-73, 1994-96, and 2002-2007).
• Muddy Bay Brook did not meet conservation requirements in 2007 although it did in the previous four years of a total of six years.
• Southwest Brook (Paradise River) has met conservation requirements for six out of nine years including 2007.
• Sand Hill River did not meet conservation requirements in 2007.
• Muddy Bay Brook did not meet conservation requirements in 2007.
• Southwest Brook (Paradise River) met conservation requirements in 2007.

Newfoundland (SFAs 3-14A)

• In Newfoundland there was a decline in returns of small and large salmon compared to 2006 and to the 1992-2006 mean. Egg depositions were for the most part below the moratorium means.
• Marine survival of smolts declined in all five monitored rivers compared to 2006 (mean 3.3%) and is the lowest overall survival recorded since the moratorium.
• Conservation requirements were met on 4 of the 13 assessed rivers.
• Abundance of salmon during the moratorium years continues to be lower than prior to the closure of the commercial fisheries.
• There is a concern with the viability of the salmon stock in the upper section of the Exploits River (upstream of Red Indian Lake).
• There is concern with the low level of large salmon spawners (2SW) in the Bay St. George area (SFA 13).

Northeast and Eastern Newfoundland (SFAs 3-8)

• In spite of greatly increased spawning in 1992-1996, subsequent returns of small and large salmon are still low.
• Egg deposition declined or remained unchanged in all assessed rivers compared to 2006 and the 1992-2006 mean.
• Conservation requirements were achieved in two (Campbellton and Middle Brook) of six assessed rivers.
• Exploits River, Terra Nova River and Northwest River (Port Blandford) have yet to achieve conservation requirements (due mainly to providing access to new habitat).
• The number of spawners in the upper Exploits has declined since 1997.

Southern Newfoundland (SFAs 9-11)

• Conservation requirements were not achieved in any of the four rivers assessed.
• Returns of small and large salmon and egg deposition declined in 2007 compared to 2006, and as compared to the 1992-2006 mean and three of four rivers set record low levels for returns of small salmon.

Southwest Newfoundland (SFAs 12-13)

• Conservation requirements were not achieved on Harry’s River in 2007.
• Returns of small and large salmon declined from 2006 with returns of small salmon being below the 1992-2006 mean. The egg deposition declined from 2006 and the 1992-2006 mean.
• Total population sizes remain low, particularly in two-sea-winter (2SW) maiden salmon.

Northwest Newfoundland (SFA 14A)

• Conservation requirements were exceeded in the two assessed rivers in 2007.
• Returns of small and large salmon and egg deposition declined in 2007 compared to 2006 and the 1992-2006 mean.

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