Research Document - 2000/039

Status of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) stocks of insular Newfoundland (SFAs 3-14S), 1999.

By M.F. O'Connell, J.B. Dempson, C.C. Mullins, D.G. Reddin, N.M. Cochrane, and D. Caines

Abstract

The commercial Atlantic salmon fishery moratorium, implemented in insular Newfoundland in 1992, entered its eighth year in 1999. On the northeast and east coasts of insular Newfoundland (SFAs 4 and 5), total returns of small salmon in 1999 increased slightly over or were similar to those of 1998 in four out of seven monitored rivers; one river showed an increase over the 1992-98 mean, three were similar, and two decreased. On the south coast (SFAs 9-11), total returns of small salmon increased or were similar to those of 1998 in two rivers and decreased in three; two rivers increased, one remained the same, and two decreased in relation to the 1992-98 mean. Total returns of small salmon to rivers in SFA 13 (including those in Bay St. George) in 1999 showed a marked improvement over recent years. Total returns of small salmon decreased from 1998 in two out of three monitored rivers in SFA 14A; two rivers showed increases over the 1992-98 means while the other had a slight decrease. Returns of large salmon and proportions of large salmon in total returns to most rivers in 1999 exceeded or were similar to the means for 1992-98 and several rivers had the highest or among the highest levels on record. Smolt-to-adult survival remained low overall in 1999. Smolt production decreased from that of 1998 at all counting facilities (ranging from 5 to 29%) except one, which increased by 60%. Unless there is an improvement in marine survival rates, it is expected that numbers of small salmon returning to insular Newfoundland rivers in year 2000, in general, will be lower than in 1999.

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