Research Document - 2000/031
Status of Atlantic salmon at Highlands River, Bay St. George, SFA 13, Newfoundland, 1999.
By J.B. Dempson and G. Clarke
Abstract
The status of Atlantic salmon in Highlands River, 1999 was determined from the number of salmon counted through a fish counting fence located on the main stem of the river just above head of tide. Biological characteristics data were collected from kelt and updated summaries for past years are provided. Adult returns in 1999 were 146 small salmon and 82 large salmon. This represented an increase of 52% for small salmon in comparison with 1998 but a 30% decline in numbers of large salmon from the previous year. Marine survival increased on both small and large salmon components, but is still anomalously low given the substantial reductions in directed marine fisheries for Atlantic salmon. The proportion of the conservation requirement achieved for Highlands River in 1999 was 48.8% with the 5th and 95th percentiles of 39.1 to 58.9%. On average for the period of 1993-97, Highlands River has achieved 74.9% of its conservation requirement.
Population estimates of juvenile salmon were made at 5 sites. Collective results suggest higher densities of 0+, 1+ and 2+ parr over 1998, but overall there appears to be little correspondence among juvenile life stage salmon densities. Smolt production should show an additional increase in 2000, but in the absence of substantial improvements in marine survival, the conservation spawning requirement for Highlands River is not expected to be attained in 2000.
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.
- Date modified: