Science Response 2016/023

Updated Information on Fishing Bycatch of Atlantic Salmon, Inner Bay of Fundy Population, and its Impact on the Survival or Recovery of this Atlantic Salmon Designatable Unit (DU)

Context

The Committee on Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) identified the inner Bay of Fundy (iBoF) Atlantic Salmon assemblage as a Designatable Unit (DU).  The DU includes all drainages from the Mispec River, NB to the Pereaux River, NS (DFO 2010). Atlantic Salmon iBoF population, was included as ‘Endangered’ on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA) when the Act was passed in 2003. Following the coming into force of SARA, an Allowable Harm Assessment (Amiro 2004) and Recovery Potential Assessment (RPA) (DFO 2008; Gibson et al. 2008) were completed to evaluate the scope for harm to this species under existing conditions. As required by SARA, a Recovery Strategy was completed for iBoF Salmon (DFO 2010). Supported by the scope for harm, as outlined in the RPA, the Recovery Strategy includes a list of existing licensed activities that are permitted to continue under SARA via the Recovery Strategy. Exempting activities in this manner must not compromise the goals and objectives of the Recovery Strategy. In other words, such activities must not jeopardize the survival or recovery of the population. 

Updated iBoF Salmon bycatch information and advice on its impact on the survival or recovery of this population assemblage was requested by the Species at Risk Management Division (SARMD), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Maritimes Region, for consideration in upcoming amendments to the Recovery Strategy. The objectives of this request were to:

• provide any new information regarding iBoF salmon bycatch in existing licensed commercial, recreational, and Aboriginal fisheries in inland and tidal waters of the Bay of Fundy,
• describe the impact of these activities on the survival or recovery of iBoF Salmon that was not considered in previously-published DFO Science advice (Amiro 2004, DFO 2008), and
• verify accuracy of conclusions drawn in previously-published DFO Science advice (Amiro 2004, DFO 2008) regarding the potential impact of these activities on the survival or recovery of iBoF Salmon if new information does exist, and provide updated conclusions and advice, if required.

Given that this request was for an update of previous advice using established methods (Amiro 2004; DFO 2008; DFO 2010; Clarke et al. 2014), it was decided to use the Science Response Process.  This information will be used to inform DFO management decisions.

Overall, salmon bycatch data continues to be unavailable for the iBoF DU rendering the current level of fishing bycatch unquantifiable. Although at-sea survival remains very low, the level of uncertainty around bycatch fishing mortality continues to warrant precautionary management measures. 

This Science Response Report results from the Science Response Process of September 10, 2015, on the Updated Information on Fishing Bycatch of Atlantic salmon, Inner Bay of Fundy Population, and its Impact on the Survival or Recovery of this Atlantic Salmon Designatable Unit (DU).

Complete document (PDF, 1,083 KB)

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