Atlantic Fisheries Research Document 1996/108
Status of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) stocks of the Newfoundland region, 1995
By M.F. O'Connell; J.B. Dempson; C.C. Mullins; D.G. Reddin; N.M. Cochrane; D. Caines
Abstract
The five-year moratorium on the commercial Atlantic salmon fishery in insular Newfoundland entered its fourth year in 1995. There were further reductions in commercial quotas in Labrador and the opening of the commercial fishery was delayed from June 5 to July 3. The objective of the delayed season was to allow a greater escapement of large salmon into rivers in Labrador. The moratorium placed on the Northern Cod Fishery in 1992, which should have eliminated by-catch of Atlantic salmon in cod fishing gear in Salmon Fishing Areas (SFAs) 1-9, continued in 1995. The moratorium on cod fishing introduced in SFAs 11-14A in August 1993 also continued in 1995. Commercial fishery quotas were not caught in any of the SFAs of Labrador in 1995. While the total catch (retained plus released fish) of small salmon in the recreational fishery for all of Labrador in 1995 was similar to 1994, the catch of large salmon increased. A similar pattern was noted for retained small and large salmon catches; CPUE in 1995 was the highest in recent years. Catches of small and large salmon in SFA 14B, an area of concern in 1994, improved in 1995. Estimated total population sizes (before any fisheries) of small (1SW) and large (2SW) salmon for Labrador in recent years were low compared to the late 1970s and early 1980s. In spite of continued restrictions on fisheries, compared to 1992-95, estimated spawning escapements of 1SW salmon in Labrador have been as high or higher in the past. Estimat4ed spawning escapements of 2SW salmon however, have increased since the low observed in 1991, with the highest on record being achieved in 1995. The continued increase in spawning escapements of 2SW salmon in the face of declining total population sizes is consistent with the intent of management measures. However, spawning escapements of 2SW salmon in recent years, including 1995, remained below target requirement. Below average spawning escapements in 1990 and 1991 could contribute to lower future returns relative to 1995, should natural survival remain the same. In insular Newfoundland, many rivers, particularly in SFAs 6-10, were closed to angling for 1-2 weeks in July; other closures of similar duration occurred in mid-late August. In Sfa 13, seven rivers were closed to angling on July 10 or 17 for the remainder of the season after an in-season review indicated total returns for 1995 would be less that 50% of target requirement. In spite of the closures, effort expenditure overall in 1995 for insular Newfoundland was highest recorded, slightly above that of 1994; however, overall CPUE was below the mean for 1992-94 and comparable to the 1984-89 and 1986-91 means. Levels of recreational catch and returns to counting facilities, in the absence of commercial fisheries, suggest the overall total population sizes of small salmon for insular Newfoundland in 1992-95 were low relative to pre-salmon moratorium years. An analysis of trends in estimated total population sizes of small salmon for Gander River (SFA 4), Middle Brook (SFA 5), Biscay Bay River (SFA 9), Humber River (SFA 13), and Western Arm Brook (SFA 14A) for the period 1974-95, supports this conclusion. Spawning escapements for these rivers in 1991 were among the lowest on record; also, angling data overall and counts of small salmon at several counting facilities indicate that, in general, spawning escapements were among the lowest on record in 1991. This suggests that returns to Northern Peninsula East and Eastern (SFAs 3-8) and Northern Peninsula West (SFA 14A) rivers in 1996 could be lower than observed during the moratorium to date and returns to South (SFAs 9-11) and Southwest (SFAs 12-13) rivers could continue at the low levels indicative of the past few years, if natural survival rates remain low.
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