Science Response 2017/020
Stock Status Update of Atlantic Salmon in Salmon Fishing Areas (SFAs) 19-21 and 23
Context
The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) identified four large groups of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar), referred to as Designatable Units (DUs), in the Maritimes Region: Eastern Cape Breton (ECB; corresponding to Salmon Fishing Area (SFA) 19), Nova Scotia Southern Upland (SU; SFAs 20, 21 and part of 22), Outer Bay of Fundy (OBoF; corresponding to the western part of SFA 23), and Inner Bay of Fundy (IBoF; part of SFAs 22 and 23) (see Appendix).
Abundance of Atlantic Salmon in the Maritimes Region has been in decline for more than two decades. Populations in many rivers are extirpated and IBoF salmon are listed as Endangered under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). In November 2010, COSEWIC assessed the ECB, SU and OBoF population assemblages as Endangered. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has completed Scientific Recovery Potential Assessments, Socio-Economic Analyses, and public consultations for these DUs to inform the decision on whether or not they will be listed under SARA.
Science advice on the status of Atlantic Salmon in SFAs 19-21 and 23 for 2016 was requested by Fisheries and Aquaculture Management. 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 2017. The objectives of the request were to assess the status of Atlantic Salmon stocks in SFAs 19, 20, 21 and 23 up to the end of 2016 using the following indicators:
- adult abundance relative to reference levels;
- juveniles densities; and
- smolt production estimates.
Given that this request is for an update of previous advice using established methods (DFO 2014, DFO 2015, DFO 2016, and references therein), it was decided to use the Science Response Process.
This Science Response Report results from the Science Response Process of March 8, 2017, on the Stock Status Update of Atlantic Salmon in Salmon Fishing Areas (SFAs) 19-21 and 23.
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