Science Response 2020/045

2019 Stock Status Update for Atlantic Salmon in Newfoundland and Labrador

Context

In 2014, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented a five-year management plan for Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) in the Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Region. Although management measures outlined in the plan were expected to remain the same over this five-year period, adjustments could be warranted if there was a dramatic change in salmon stocks, particularly declines (see Appendix 2 for specific triggers). In 2016, declines of total returns in the NL Region were significant enough to trigger revisiting the five-year salmon management plan, including full assessments of the status of Atlantic Salmon in 2016 (DFO 2017), 2017 (DFO 2018) and 2018. DFO decided to adopt a two-year management plan in the NL Region. This new management cycle for Atlantic Salmon began in 2019, therefore, the next scheduled full stock assessment will occur in 2021 for 2020 returns.

This Science Response Report results from the Science Response Process of March 4, 2020 on Stock Status Update for Atlantic Salmon in Newfoundland and Labrador. This Science Response Process provides an update on the status of Atlantic Salmon stocks with data from 2019 for SFAs 1, 2 and 14B (Labrador) and SFAs 3 to 14A (Newfoundland) (Figure 1). Fisheries Management will use advice from this Science Response Process to inform the 2020 Atlantic Salmon management plan.

Science Response 2020/045 (PDF, 1,224 KB)

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