Research Document - 2000/07
Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) stock status on rivers in the Northumberland Strait, Nova Scotia area, in 1999.
By O'Neil, S.F., Rutherford, K.A., Aitken, D.
Abstract
Fifteen separate rivers on the Northumberland Strait shore of Nova Scotia support Atlantic salmon stocks. Stock status information for 1999 is provided for eight of those stocks based on the conservation requirements and escapements calculated either from a mark-and-recapture experiment (River Philip), capture (exploitation) rates in the angling fishery, or a count of fish by snorkel divers (Sutherlands River). Additional information is included for the three principal rivers in the area, East River, Pictou; River Philip and West River, Antigonish.
Anglers reported harvesting or releasing 580 small salmon (grilse) and 1,160 large salmon on the rivers within the area. First Peoples reported harvesting about 120 fish (large salmon and grilse).
uvenile salmon densities were found to be high compared with those found on many rivers in the Maritime Provinces. The mean densities of fry and parr on West River, Antigonish, as determined in an electrofishing survey, were greater than 120 fry and about 40 parr per 100 m2.
The population estimate on River Philip, based on the mark-recapture method, indicated spawners were surplus to the conservation requirement in 1999. On Sutherlands River, snorkel divers counted adult salmon which numbered slightly more than the desired conservation number. On several other rivers in the area, estimated spawner numbers exceeded requirements (East River, Pictou; West, Antigonish; and West, Pictou). The estimated escapements to River John, Waugh River and Wallace River were well below conservation requirements.
Forecasts of salmon returns for 2000 were estimated as the average of the five-year estimates for returns and are provided for East River, Pictou; River Philip and West River, Antigonish. Returns of grilse and large salmon surplus to conservation requirements are forecast for 2000 on all three rivers.
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