Atlantic Fisheries Research Document 1996/126

Status of Atlantic salmon in Salmon Fishing Area 21, in 1995, with emphasis on the upper LaHave River, Lunenburg Co., Nova Scotia

By P.G. Amiro; E.M. Jefferson; C.J. Harvie

Abstract

The status of Atlantic salmon spawning escapements for the LaHave River above Morgan Falls relative to conservation objectives, descriptions of fisheries, forecasts for 1996, trends in marine survival of hatchery-origin fish, and issues of the Zone 21 Management Advisory Committee are presented. The status of stocks in other rivers of SFA 21 is inferred from reports of recreational catch statistics and a distribution of probable angling exploitation rates estimated for the LaHave River. Conservation requirements for LaHave River above Morgan Falls and the entire catchment basin are reviewed using remote-sensed estimates of habitat, published estimates of habitat, stock and recruitment analysis, and the results of a life history process model for the river.

Egg deposition above Morgan Falls in 1995 was 76% of the 1995 conservation objective of 1.96 x 10⁶. The modal deposition for the entire La Have River basin was 104% of the 1995 basin-wide required conservation deposition of 3.86 x 10⁶ eggs. The most probable pre-fishery abundance for eleven other rivers of SFA 21 was 5,239 salmon (4,053-7,312; 5^th and 95^th percentiles) and the most probable spawning escapement for these rivers was 4,090 fish. Status of stocks, relative to conservation for these rivers, is uncertain because of acidification resultant of acid precipitation and the effectiveness of standard conservation requirements.

Forecasts to Morgan Falls for 1996 indicate a small surplus of male hatchery grilse above Morgan Falls if a hook-and-release fishery for salmon (>63 cm) and retention of grilse (£63 cm) were to occur in the fishery below Morgan Falls. Trends in return rates of hatchery smolts, concerns of Advisory Committee and suggestions to improve the assessment are discussed.

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