Research Document - 1999/088

Status of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) In Indian Bay Brook, Middle Brook, and Terra Nova River (SFA 5), Northeast Brook, Trepassey (SFA 9), and Northeast River, Placentia (SFA 10), Newfoundland, in 1998.

By M.F. O'Connell and A. Walsh

Abstract

The status of Atlantic salmon stocks in 1998 was determined for Indian Bay Brook, Middle Brook, and Terra Nova River in Salmon Fishing Area (SFA 5), Northeast Brook, Trepassey in SFA 9, and Northeast River, Placentia in SFA 10. Total returns of small salmon to Indian Bay Brook and Middle Brook in 1998 increased by 89% and 98% over 1997, the highest since the closure of the commercial Atlantic salmon fishery in 1992 for Middle Brook but the fourth highest for Indian Bay Brook. Returns for both these rivers in 1997 were the lowest of the moratorium years. Total returns of small salmon to Terra Nova River in 1998 were similar to 1997 in which year the second lowest returns of the moratorium years were recorded. Increases in small salmon returns were also recorded for Northeast Brook, Trepassey (82%) and Northeast River, Placentia (22%) in 1998; returns for the former river in 1997 were the lowest of the moratorium years and second lowest for the latter. Returns of large salmon in 1998 decreased from those of 1997 in Middle Brook (25%) and Terra Nova River (26%) but remained similar for Indian Bay Brook (5%). Record high returns of large salmon occurred in Middle Brook in 1997 while for Terra Nova River returns in that year were the second highest recorded. Returns of large salmon to Northeast Brook, Trepassey in 1998 increased by 22% over 1997, still among the lowest of the moratorium years, while returns to Northeast River, Placentia were the highest on record. Conservation egg requirement was achieved in all rivers except Terra Nova River. It should be noted that accessible rearing habitat above the lower Terra Nova River fishway more than doubled with the opening of the area above Mollyguajeck Falls in the early 1990s. Smolt-to-adult survival for Northeast Brook, Trepassey in 1998 (adult year) was 5.0%, an improvement over the 2.9% observed in 1997, but low compared with the record high of 9.2% in 1996. The survival value for 1997 was the lowest of the moratorium years and the second lowest of the entire time series.

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