Atlantic Fisheries Research Document 1996/129

Status of Atlantic salmon in the Nepisiguit River, New Brunswick, 1995

By A. Locke; F. Mowbray

Abstract

A minimum of 62% of the target egg deposition for Atlantic salmon in the Nepisiguit River was estimated to have been achieved in 1995. Large salmon spawning escapement (819) was well below the requirement of 1,363 fish. Small salmon spawning escapement (425) was also less than the requirement (690 fish). Estimates of spawning escapement in 1995 are considered minima because the spawning run was delayed by low water conditions. It is believed that an unusually large proportion of fish entered the river in late October and early November after removal of the counting fence and trapnets, and termination of the angling season.

The large salmon target has been met only twice (in 1987 and 1988) since 1982, but the small salmon target has been met nine times (most recently, in 1993) during this period.

The total angling catch (estimated by the Nepisiguit Salmon Association of 450 small salmon (350 retained, 100 released) was the same as that estimated in 1994 (380 retained, 70 released), which was the lowest recorded since 1985. In 1995, the poor catch was attributed to the low, warm water conditions. Fewer small salmon were retained in 1995 than in 1994. The large salmon angling catch of 300 fish was slightly higher than in 1994 (250 fish). Catch per unit effort was slightly higher than in 1994. First Nation harvest was estimated as 44 large and 131 small salmon.

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