Research Document 1997/26

Status of Atlantic salmon in Salmon Fishing Area 22 and 23 for 1996, with emphasis on inner Bay of Fundy stocks

By P.G. Amiro and E.M. Jefferson

Abstract

Assessment of the status of Atlantic salmon(Salmo salar) stocks of Salmon Fishing Area (SFA) 22, the Bay of Fundy area of Nova Scotia and those of SFA 23 east of the Saint John River, known as inner Bay of Fundy, indicated that escapements of salmon to six of seven assessed rivers were less than conservation requirements. All harvest and hook-and-release fisheries have been closed since 1991. Stewiacke River parr densities remain low at 1.16 age-0⁺, 5.29 age-1⁺ and 1.92 age-2⁺ parr 10^-2 m². Escapements to the Petitcodiac River remained low in 1996 and although age 0⁺ parr were found in three of four electrofishing sites in the vacinity where adult salmon were released in 1995, no age-1⁺ parr or older were observed. Observations and counts of salmon in Point Wolfe and Alma rivers were low in 1996. Escapements to the Big Salmon River were 16% of the conservation requirement in 1996. Mean density of age-0⁺ parr (fry) parr of five sites electrofished in 1996 in the Big Salmon River was 49.22 fry (m^-2 * 100) and 10.68 age-1⁺ parr. Densities of fry and older parr were higher in Big Salmon River than other assessed rivers and higher than densities in six other inner Bay of Fundy rivers electrofished in 1996. Gaspereau River, a river containing two-sea-winter salmon atypical of inner Bay of Fundy and impacted by hydroelectric development, was 105% of the egg deposition requirement when hatchery returns were included and 27% of requirement without hatchery returns. Ineffective downstream fish passage of smolts in the Annapolis and Gaspereau rivers and episodic incidence of low marine survival for all Inner Bay of Fundy stocks are suggested as reasons for low returns in 1996 and since 1990. Prognosis and mitigation techniques were discussed and no fishery was recommended for 1997

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