Atlantic Fisheries Research Document 1996/087

Status of the Atlantic salmon stock of the Forteau River, Labrador 1995

By S.L. Lowe; C.C. Mullins

Abstract

This is the second assessment of the status of the Atlantic salmon stock on the Forteau River based on a counting fence operation. For the 1995 assessment, the counting fence was located further upstream than in the previous year and a habitat survey was completed which indicated that a total of 551,500 m² of fluvial area and 896 ha of lacustrine area were available to salmon rearing in the river. Based on the available habitat, the target spawning requirement for the Forteau River is 1,417,680 eggs. Seventy-four percent of this target was achieved in 1995 compared to 46% in 1994.

The return of small salmon to the Forteau River in 1995 was the same as in 1994 but the return of large salmon was 91% above the return in 1994. Compared to the 1987-1991 mean, which was prior to the implementation of effort reductions in the commercial salmon fishery in Labrador, the return of small salmon in 1995 and 1994 decreased, whereas, the return of large increased in 1995 but had remained the same in 1994.

In the recreational fishery, the retained catch of small salmon in 1995 was below the catch in 1994 and below the 1987-1991 mean but the catch of large salmon in 1995 was the second highest since 1989. However, the CPUE in 1995 and 1994 was the lowest since 1976.

The increased abundance of large salmon in the Forteau River in 1995 may have been due to the four week delay in the opening date of the commercial salmon fishery in Labrador which would have resulted in decreased commercial fishing mortality on early run large salmon and increased returns to the river. The SFA 14 (B) commercial fishery landed 1.6t of the 6.5t quota in 1995. In spite of the improvement in large salmon abundance, the current overall trend of low total returns on the Forteau River did not change in 1995 and based on the low spawning escapements experienced in the early 1990s, returns to the river are not expected to improve in the near future. In order to ensure future growth and stability of this salmon stock, the minimum spawning requirements need to be achieved each year.

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