Research Document - 2000/041

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 Northerast River, Placentia (SFA10), Newfoundland, in 1999.

By M.F. O'Connell, A. Walsh, and N.M. Cochrane

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 1999 decreased from 1998 (17 and 23%) while Terra Nova River showed a slight increase (9%). Returns of small salmon to Northeast Brook, Trepassey were similar to 1998 while Northeast River, Placentia declined (59%) to the lowest level of the commercial salmon fishing moratorium period. Total returns of large salmon to Indian Bay Brook in 1999 increased by 9% over 1998, but decreases were noted for Middle Brook and Terra Nova River (34 and 12%). Northeast Brook, Trepassey showed an increase in large salmon returns in 1999 over 1988 (64%), but returns to Northeast River Placentia decreased (42%). 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 1985. Smolt-to-adult survival for small salmon (repeat spawners included) for Northeast Brook, Trepassey in 1999 (adult year) was 5.5%, a slight improvement over the 5.0% observed in 1998, and low compared with the record high of 9.2% in 1996. The survival value for 1997 (2.9%) was the lowest of the moratorium years and the second lowest of the entire time series. Survival in terms of virgin grilse in 1999 was 5.0%. Egg-to-smolt survival for the 1994 spawning year-class was 0.40 (preliminary), a substantial decline from the high recorded for the 1992 year-class (1.09%), and more in line with values observed prior to 1992. Estimates of total river returns of small salmon to Indian Bay Brook in 1997-99, derived using angling data and the index river method, were three to four times higher than actual returns. Angling data were of some value with respect to indication of the overall direction of trends in abundance.

Complete document (PDF, 11.2 MB)

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.