Atlantic Fisheries Research Document 1996/039

The status of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar L.) in the Highlands River, St. George’s Bay (SFA 13), Newfoundland, 1995

By R.J. Gibson; K.G. Hillier; R.R. Whalen

Abstract

A counting fence was installed in the Highlands River, located in the southwestern part of insular Newfoundland (SFA 13), and was operated from May 14 to October 25, 1995. Previous fence counts have been made in 1980, 1981, 1982, 1993 and 1994. Population estimates of juvenile salmon (Salmo salar) were made at 19 sites in late August and early September. The smolt count was 9009, but high water washed out the fence from June 8 - 12, shortly after the peak of the run, and probably close to a third of the run was uncounted. Ages from a smolt sample consisted of 4% of 2+, 51% were 3+, 42% were 4+, and 3% were 5+, showing a slight increase in the older age groups from earlier years. Counts of small (172) and large (120) salmon, although similar to counts in 1994 (145 small and 148 large), are greater than in the previous years, especially with the large salmon component. Nevertheless egg deposition remains below the target figure (68%). Improved returns in 1993 - 1995, compared to 1980 - 1982 are attributed to closure of the commercial fisheries. Sea-survival of large and small salmon from the 1993 smolts was 2.65%, which is low, but is more than double that of the smolt run in 1980 (1.2%). Juvenile population estimates showed higher densities of underyearlings compared to estimates in 1980 - 1981, especially in River Brook, the uppermost part of the main stem, which has coarser substrate than most other parts of the system, and more likely to be used for spawning by large rather than small salmon. Trends in the estimates of older juveniles were equivocal, possibly related to studies being undertaken later in the year than usual, when water levels were higher. The river mapping has progressed from the mouth of the river to Loch Levin. A number of beaver dams on small tributaries were removed to allow access to adult salmon. Improperly placed culverts on some tributaries are barriers to migration to adult and juvenile fish. Sedimentation from logging roads and erosion may have negative effects on production.

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