Research Document 1997/32

Status of the Exploits River stock of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) in 1996

By C.E. Bourgeois, J. Murray, V. Mercer

Abstract

The Exploits River was the site of an Atlantic salmon colonization program from 1957-1993.Counts at fishways and angling data provided the basis for assessing the status of the salmon population and determining percent of conservation egg deposition achieved. The 1996 freshwater escapement to the Exploits, of 32,369 (30,316 small and 2,053 large) the highest recorded to date, was 179% of the average 1992-95 escapement and 405% of the 1987-1991 mean and 259% of the 1984-1989 mean. In 1996 the lower, middle and upper Exploits received 221%, 43% and 25% of the required egg deposition respectively. Escapement to the Grand Falls fishway (middle Exploits) more than doubled any previous count. Anticipated returns for 1997 are presented based on a fry to adult recruit relationship using mean data for the 1992-1996 period and on a relationships between 2⁺ and 3⁺ as well as 3⁺ and 4⁺ recruits.

Complete document (PDF, 1,326 KB)

Accessibility Notice

This document is available in PDF format. If the document is not accessible to you, please contact the Secretariat to obtain another appropriate format, such as regular print, large print, Braille or audio version.