Research Document - 2006/058

Status of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar L.) Stocks of Insular Newfoundland (SFAs 3-14A), 2005

By O’Connell, M.F., J.B. Dempson, D.G. Reddin, C.E. Bourgeois, T.R. Porter, N.M. Cochrane, and D. Caines

Abstract

The commercial Atlantic salmon fishery moratorium, implemented in insular Newfoundland in 1992, entered its 14th year in 2005. Returns of small salmon to northeast and east coast rivers in 2005 generally improved or remained similar relative-2004 and the moratorium means. Returns to south coast (SFA 11), Bay St. George, and northwest coast rivers declined from 2004 and in most instances also declined from the means. With the exception of Notre Dame Bay (SFA 4), there was an overall decline in returns of large salmon in 2005 compared-2004, accompanied by decreases from the means in half the cases. While the proportion of large salmon in total returns in 2005 increased or were similar relative-2004 for most rivers, the reverse applied in relation to the 1997-2004 moratorium means. Conservation egg requirements were met or exceeded in nine out of 23 rivers in 2005. In 2005, 57 (36%) out of 158 scheduled rivers in insular Newfoundland were closed to angling for varying periods of time due to low water levels and high water temperatures. Sea survival in 2005 decreased from 2004 for all rivers except Campbellton where the highest survival on record (11.4%) occurred; the lowest survival (2.5%) occurred in Conne River. Smolt production in 2005 decreased from 2004 in four out of five rivers, with Rocky River being the only one to show an increase. Where smolt production declined in 2005, returns of small salmon in 2006 are expected to be lower unless there is a compensatory increase in marine survival.

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