Science Advisory Report 2008/063
Stock Assessment of Newfoundland and Labrador atlantic salmon - 2008
Summary
Newfoundland and Labrador Region (SFAs 1-14B)
- Low marine survival since the late 1980’s continues to be the major factor affecting overall abundance of Atlantic salmon within the region. Inter-annual variation in the index of marine survival continues to fluctuate widely as evidenced by the marine survival of the 2007 and 2008 returns (see Fig. 10).
- Within insular Newfoundland, abundance of small salmon improved in 2008 and was above post moratorium means (1992-2007). Low abundance of small salmon was noted in 2001 and 2007, and for large salmon particularly low abundance was noted in the early 1990’s and 2007.
- 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 and14B)
- In Labrador, returns of small salmon increased in 2008 compared to 2007 at three out of four counting facilities while returns to the fourth declined. The 2008 index of abundance increased from the 2007 level and remains above the moratorium mean.
- Numbers of large salmon increased for four rivers. There remains concern with the low level of large salmon spawners in Labrador as evidenced from an index of abundance which have remained lower than prior to the closure of the commercial fishery.
- Conservation requirements were met on all assessed rivers.
- In 2008, there was a decline in returns (>10 %) of small salmon in the one river monitored in SFA 1 compared to 2007. However, small salmon returns increased over the previous 6 year mean. There was an increase in returns of small salmon in the three rivers monitored in SFA 2 compared to 2008 and when compared to means of previous years at all three counting fences (See Table 2).
- There was an increase in returns (>10 %) of large salmon in the one river monitored in SFA 1 compared to 2007. However, when compared to the previous 6 year mean, large salmon returns increased. There was an increase in returns of large salmon in SFA 2 compared to 2007 at the three counting fences. When compared to previous year means large salmon returns increased 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 2).
- 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 has met or exceeded conservation requirements for a third consecutive year of the ten years.
Labrador SFA 2
- Sand Hill River met conservation requirements in 2008 as it did in a total of four out of 13 years (1970-73, 1994-96, and 2002-08).
- Muddy Bay Brook met conservation requirements in 2008 as it did in five of seven years.
- Southwest Brook (Paradise River) has met conservation requirements for seven out of ten years including 2008.
Newfoundland (SFAs 3-14A)
- In Newfoundland there was an increase in returns of small salmon compared to 2007 and to the 1992-2006 mean. Egg depositions were for the most part above the moratorium means (1992-2007).
- Marine survival of smolts increased at all five monitored rivers compared with 2007 and accounts for some the highest overall survival recorded since the moratorium. Marine survival varies greatly on an inter-annual basis.
- Conservation requirements were met on 11 of the 18 assessed rivers.
- Abundance of salmon during the moratorium years continues to be lower than prior to the closure of the commercial fisheries.
- There is concern for the viability of the salmon stock in the upper section of the Exploits River (upstream of Red Indian Lake), however 2008 returns increased greatly over the previous 5 year mean.
- There is concern with the low level of large salmon spawners (2SW) in the Bay St. George area (SFA 13). Additional concern is expressed over the low level of egg deposition achieved in Middle Barachois Brook in 2008.
Northeast and Eastern Newfoundland (SFAs 3-8)
- In spite of greatly increased spawning in 1992-96, subsequent returns of small and large salmon, on average, are still low.
- Egg deposition improved in all assessed rivers in 2008 compared to 2007 and the 1992-2007 mean (Table 2).
- Conservation requirements were achieved in three (Gander, Campbellton and Middle Brook) of six assessed rivers (Table 2).
- Exploits River, Terra Nova River and Northwest River (Port Blandford) have yet to achieve conservation requirements (due to provision of access to new habitat) (Table 2).
- The number of spawners in the middle and upper Exploits increased greatly over the 2007 and 1992-2007 mean.
Southern Newfoundland (SFAs 9-11)
- Conservation requirements were achieved in two (Conne River and Northeast Brook, Trepassey) of the four rivers assessed (Table 2).
Southwest Newfoundland (SFAs 12-13)
- Stock sizes increased, compared to 2007, in all assessed rivers with the exception of Middle Barachois. In most rivers the 2008 population estimates exceeded the 5 year average (Table 2).
- 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 2008 (Torrent River and Western Arm Brook) (Table 2).
- Returns of small and large salmon and egg deposition increased in 2008 compared to 2007 and the 1992-2007 mean (Table 2).
Accessibility Notice
This document is available in PDF format. If the document is not accessible to you, please contact the Secretariat to obtain another appropriate format, such as regular print, large print, Braille or audio version.
- Date modified: