Research Document - 2005/022

Stock Status of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) in the Cheticamp River, Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Nova Scotia, for 2004

By Landry, D., G. Chaput, J. Bridgland

Abstract

A mark and recapture experiment was conducted in the Cheticamp River, Nova Scotia, in 2004 to estimate the returns of small and large Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). Salmon were captured, marked and released at an estuary trapnet and the catch and recaptures of previously tagged fish from creel forms in the sport fishery provided the recapture data to estimate returns. The salmon fishery in the Cheticamp River is entirely catch and release. Angling catch as declared in the completed angling forms totaled 177 fish. The trapnet was operated from July 25 to November 1 during which time 57 salmon were captured, marked and released. Creel reports from the sport fishery during August to the end of October indicated a total fishing effort of 108 hours resulting in a total catch of 20 fish of which 6 had been previously tagged. The proportion of the fish population exploited in that period was about 10.5%. The instantaneous catch rate was estimated at 0.001 fish per hour effort. Declared effort on creel forms from the sport fishery in May to July was 355 hours which results in an estimated exploitation rate of 31%. A total of catch of 67 fish was declared from that period. The total small and large salmon returning to the Cheticamp River was estimated at 409 fish (95% confidence interval: 277 to 1270 fish). Large salmon comprised 66% of the total catch of salmon at the trapnet, a proportion identical to the catches in the sport fishery. Large salmon returns in 2004 were estimated at 270 fish with less than 2.5% chance that the large salmon returns were less than 183 fish, 110% of the conservation requirement.

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