Research Document 1998/119

Status of the Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar L.) in Big Brook (Michaels River), Labrador, 1997

By D.G. Reddin and P.B. Short

Abstract

The status of the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) stock in Big Brook (also known as Michaels River), Labrador in 1997 was determined using counting fence data, samples collected in the angling fishery, and records of angling mortalities. The stock assessment was conducted in relation to reduced Atlantic salmon commercial fisheries in Labrador due to quota restrictions and the five-year moratorium on the commercial Atlantic salmon fishery in insular Newfoundland, which entered the sixth year in 1997. Also, this is the first assessment of a northern Labrador salmon stock. In 1997, total returns to Big Brook adjusted for the early removal of counting fence were 530 small and 104 large salmon. The number of spawners adjusted for angling mortalities were 454 small and 102 large salmon. The egg deposition required for conservation for Big Brook is 5,294,160 eggs using information from a river survey conducted by Murphy (1973). In 1997, the proportion achieved of the conservation egg requirements was very low, probably less than 30%.

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