Science Response 2013/013

Status of Atlantic salmon in Salmon Fishing Areas (SFAs) 19-21 and 23

Context

Abundance of Atlantic salmon in the Maritimes Region has been in decline for more than two decades. Atlantic salmon commercial fisheries were closed by 1985. In addition, increasingly restrictive management measures for recreational fisheries have been implemented, including their complete closure in inner Bay of Fundy rivers in 1991, outer Bay of Fundy rivers in 1998, and eastern and southern shore Nova Scotia rivers in 2010. Recreational fisheries in eastern Cape Breton are currently closed in all but four rivers (Appendix 1). In addition, Aboriginal communities have either reduced or ceased their salmon fishing activity.

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) identified four large groupings of salmon in the Maritimes Region: the outer Bay of Fundy (corresponding to the western part of Salmon Fishing Area, SFA, 23), the Nova Scotia Southern Upland (SFAs 20, 21 and part of 22), the inner Bay of Fundy (part of SFAs 22 and 23), and eastern Cape Breton (SFA 19) areas (Appendix 2). Populations in many rivers are extirpated, and inner Bay of Fundy salmon are listed as Endangered under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). In November 2010, COSEWIC assessed the outer Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia Southern Upland, and eastern Cape Breton populations as Endangered.  DFO Science held Recovery Potential Assessments (RPAs) for Southern Upland Atlantic salmon in May 2012, eastern Cape Breton salmon in late January/early February 2013, and outer Bay of Fundy Salmon in February 2013. Peer-reviewed scientific information from these RPAs is used in SARA processes, including listing decisions and recovery planning.  Final RPA Research Documents and Science Advisory Reports will be posted to the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) website when complete.

Science advice on the status of salmon in SFAs 19-21 and 23 in 2012 was requested by Fisheries and Aquaculture Management (FAM) on February 8, 2013. This advice is used to inform Aboriginal communities, clients and the provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, of the status of the salmon resource in advance of developing harvest agreements and recreational fishing plans for 2013. Given that this request was for an update of previous advice using established methods (e.g., DFO 2012a), it was decided to use the Science Special Response Process. This Science Response Report results from the Science Special Response Process of March 1, 2013, on the Assessment of Atlantic Salmon in Salmon Fishing Areas (SFAs) 19-21 and 23.

DFO Science is moving toward providing multi-year advice on the status of fish stocks, including Atlantic salmon.  Currently a formal review of scientific methods is planned on a 5-year basis, with interim reports planned on an annual basis.

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