Research Document - 2004/43

Status of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) in Campbellton River, Notre Dame Bay (SFA 4), Newfoundland in 2003

By Downton, P.R., Reddin, D.G.

Abstract

The status of Atlantic salmon in Campbellton River was determined from the number of juvenile and adult Atlantic salmon counted through two portable fish counting fences with the biological data collected at each fence site and from the recreational salmon fishery. In 2003, adult returns were 2,219 small and 152 large salmon, which is lower (19% and 45%, respectively) when compared to the 1993-02 average of 2,735 small and 278 large salmon. One aspect of stock status is the comparison of the actual egg deposition to conservation requirements. For Campbellton River, approximately 1,480 spawning adult fish are needed to produce 2.92 million eggs based on the available habitat. The percent of the conservation egg requirement achieved for Campbellton River in 2003 was 193% (5^th percentile=182 and 95^th percentile=282). On average, for the period of 1993-2002, Campbellton River achieved 241% of its conservation requirement. The mean freshwater survival from eggs to smolt from the 1993 to 1998 year classes is 0.54%, with an overall corrected mean smolt to grilse survival for the years 1993 to 2002 of 5.20% (corrected: for the presence of returning repeat spawners). Historical records indicated that circa.1800; about 12,000 adult salmon were captured at a harvesting weir (Taylor 1985). Since 1993, adult salmon returns to Campbellton River are less than 30% of historical migrations.

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