Atlantic Fisheries Research Document 1996/142

Status of Atlantic Salmon Stocks of the Margaree and other selected rivers of Cape Breton Island, 1995

By T.L. Marshall

Abstract

Assessments of the stock status of Atlantic salmon were conducted on the Margaree, Middle, Baddeck, North, Sydney and Grand rivers of SFAs 18 and 19, Cape Breton Island. These rivers account for >90% of the total recreational fishing effort exerted on the Island's 33 rivers fished for salmon in 1995.

Returning salmon were either counted at fishways or estimated by mark-and-recapture techniques. Estimated returns of 2,365 large and 737 small salmon to the Margaree, 268 large and 120 small salmon to the North and 19 large and 262 small to Grand River Falls contributed attainment of 192, 169 and 120% of respective conservation requirements. Returns of 328 large and 51 small fish to the Middle River, 265 large and 96 small fish to Baddeck River and 104 large and 18 small salmon to the Sydney River contributed to the attainment of 67, 68 and 61% of their respective conservation requirements. Evidence of lateness of salmon returning to some rivers raised uncertainty about completeness of estimates to the Middle, Baddeck and perhaps, North rivers.

Prognoses for 1996, based on forecast models, juvenile salmon densities, recent estimates of area of overwinter habitat in the North Atlantic and numbers of hatchery smolts stocked in 1995 are that returns should be similar to those of 1995. MSW escapements to the Margaree River have exceeded conservation requirements during the last decade. Escapement of 1SW fish to the Margaree was less than conservation requirements in 1994-1995 and might benefit from additional protection.

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