Science Advisory Report  2012/080

Stock assessment of Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Salmon – 2012

Summary

Newfoundland and Labrador Region (SFAs 1-14B)

• Marine survival appears to be the major factor limiting the abundance of Atlantic Salmon within the region. Inter-annual variation in the index of marine survival continues to fluctuate widely (Fig. 10).
• The index of abundance of small and large salmon in insular Newfoundland for 2012 was below (small) or similar to (large) the previous five-year mean (2007‑11). However, the previous five-year mean remains below the pre-moratorium index (prior to 1992) of abundance for both small and large salmon when adjustments for marine exploitation are incorporated.
• In Labrador, returns of small salmon in 2012 remain unchanged from the previous six‑year mean on English River but declined below the six-year mean for Sand Hill River and Southwest Brook. On Sand Hill River returns of large salmon in 2012 were above the previous six-year mean and remain unchanged at the other two rivers. Abundance of large salmon has remained particularly low since the 1980s (mean 1980-89 was 114,490 large salmon: mean 1990‑2012 was 31,412).
• Six (40 %) of the 15 Atlantic Salmon rivers assessed in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2012 achieved their conservation egg requirement. Six of the nine rivers that did not achieve conservation are in SFA 2 (2 rivers), SFA 9 (1 river), SFA 11 (2 rivers) and SFA 13 (1 river). The remaining three rivers that did not achieve conservation have historically undergone enhancement activities, including the opening of new habitat and stocking, and are still being colonized.
• The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) designated the South Newfoundland (SFAs 9-12) Atlantic Salmon populations as threatened in November 2010.
• In 2012, a Recovery Potential Assessment (RPA) was conducted for South Newfoundland Designatable Unit (DU) 4. Publications from this process will be posted as they become available on the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat website.
• Estimates of retained and total catch (retained + released) in the recreational fishery for the Newfoundland and Labrador region have been trending upward in recent years (Fig. 2). The estimates of retained catch and total catch for 2011 are above their previous five-year mean by 17 % and 12 % respectively.
• Estimates of removals in the Labrador subsistence fisheries (net fisheries) in 2011 have increased 21 % by number and 27 % by weight over the previous six-year mean.

Labrador (SFAs 1-2 and 14B)

• Abundance levels of large and small salmon in Labrador, on average, are below levels achieved prior to the moratorium (Figs. 4 and 5).
• In 2012, numbers of small salmon were similar to (English River) or below (Sand Hill River and Southwest Brook) the six-year mean, whereas large salmon were above (Sand Hill River) or similar to the previous six-year mean (English River and Southwest Brook).
• Smolt production at Sand Hill River in 2012 was the highest recorded value (82,537).
• The low level of large salmon spawners in Labrador remains a concern.

Newfoundland (SFAs 3-14A)

• The 2012 salmon returns resulted, in part, from egg depositions in 2007 that were the lowest observed since the moratorium.
• Returns of small and large salmon in 2012 varied greatly among the various geographical areas. Compared to the previous five-year mean (2007-11), small salmon returns increased on six rivers and decreased on five whereas, large salmon returns increased on eight and decreased on three. One river was assessed using total returns (small and large combined) and returns in 2012 were less than the 2007-11 mean. The index of abundance of small salmon was below the previous five-year mean, whereas the large salmon index was similar to the previous five-year mean.
• Conservation egg requirements were achieved on five of 12 assessed rivers. Four of the seven rivers that did not achieve conservation are in SFAs 9, 11 and 13. The remaining three have historically undergone enhancement activities (i.e., Exploits, Terra Nova and Rocky).
• Compared to the previous five-year mean (2007-11), marine survival increased on one of the five monitored rivers. The overall index of marine survival for 2012 was below the previous five-year mean. The direction of change for smolt production was positive or unchanged for four of the five monitored rivers. Smolt production has declined on Rocky River for the past two years and 2012 was the lowest recorded value (previous record low was in 2003).

This Science Advisory Report is from the November 19-21, 2012 Update on the Status of Atlantic Salmon in Newfoundland & Labrador. Additional publications from this process will be posted as they become available on the DFO Science Advisory Schedule.

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