Research Document - 1999/049

Stock status of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in the Miramichi River, 1998.

By G.Chaput, D. Moore, J. Hayward, J. Shaesgreen, and B. Dubee

Abstract

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in the Miramichi River, New Brunswick, were harvested by two user groups in 1998; First Nations and recreational fishers. The Aboriginal food fishery catches in 1998 represented a decrease of 44% for small and 26% for large salmon relative to the previous five years. Harvest of large salmon were 83% from the early-run (prior to Sept. 1) and 88% of the small salmon harvests were taken prior to Sept. 1 in 1998. Recreational fishery catch data for 1998 had not yet been analysed. The Crown Reserve catches were improved from 1997 but generally similar or lower than the previous five-year mean. For the Southwest Miramichi, 24000 small salmon and 7000 large salmon were estimated to have returned in 1998. After accounting for removals, egg depositions in the Southwest Miramichi by both small and large salmon will be less than 70% of the conservation requirement. For the Northwest Miramichi, 7900 small salmon and 2200 large salmon were estimated to have returned. Egg depositions by small and large salmon in the Northwest in 1998 will be less than 57% of conservation requirement. Egg depositions had exceeded the conservation requirements in each branch during the last five years except for the Southwest Miramichi in 1997. Large salmon returns in 1999 are expected to be about 13000 fish with only an 11% chance of meeting conservation requirements. The increased densities of juvenile salmon, since 1985 for fry and 1986 for parr, at the index sites sampled since 1971, indicate that the long-term prospect for the Atlantic salmon stock of the Miramichi should be good if smolt production is as high as inferred from juveniles and sea survivals improve.

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