Research Document 1997/22

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) stock status on rivers in the Northumberland Strait, Nova Scotia area in 1996

By S.F. O'Neil, D.A. Longard, and C.J. Harvie

Abstract

Fifteen separate rivers on the Northumberland Strait shore of Nova Scotia support Atlantic salmon stocks. Stock status information for 1996 is provided for nine of those stocks based on the conservation requirements and escapements calculated either from mark-and-recapture experiments (East River, Pictou and River Philip) or capture (exploitation) rates in the angling fishery. Additional information is included for the three principal rivers in the area, East River, Pictou; River Philip and West River, Antigonish.

Anglers reported harvesting or releasing 823 small salmon (grilse) and 1,985 large salmon on the rivers within the area. First Peoples reported harvesting 13 small and 94 large salmon from an estuarial trap in East River, Pictou, and with seine nets in River Philip.

Juvenile salmon densities were found to be high compared with those found on many rivers in the Maritime Provinces. The mean densities of fry and parr on West River, Antigonish, in an electrofishing survey, expanded to five sites from two in 1995, were greater than 160 fry and 80 parr per 100 m².

Two population estimates were calculated from the mark-and-recapture experiment on East River, Pictou (minimum and maximum); both indicated escapements were surplus to requirements in 1996. The population estimate on River Philip, based on the mark-recapture method, also indicated spawners were surplus to the conservation requirement in 1996. On Sutherlands River, on Nov. 7, snorkel divers counted adult salmon which numbered more than twice the desired conservation number. On several other rivers in the area estimated spawner numbers exceeded requirements (River John; Waugh; West, Antigonish; and West, Pictou). The estimated escapements to South River and Wallace River were 56% and 63% of the conservation levels, respectively.

Forecasts were possible only by using the five-year estimates for returns and are provided for East River, Pictou; River Philip and West River, Antigonish. The forecast of returns for 1997, based on the five-year average returns, is for surplus numbers of grilse (variable numbers) and for the number of large salmon returns to exceed requirements by 17% to 60% on those same rivers.

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