Science Advisory Report 2009/068

Stock Assessment of Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Salmon - 2009

Summary

Newfoundland and Labrador Region (SFAs 1-14B)

• Low marine survival since the late 1980’s continues to be the major factor contributing to the overall low abundance of Atlantic salmon within the region. Inter-annual variation in the index of marine survival continues to fluctuate widely as evidenced by the marine survival of the 2007 - 2009 returns (Fig. 10).
• Within insular Newfoundland, overall abundance of small and large salmon declined in 2009 from the estimated abundance for 2008, and was below the moratorium mean (1992-2008). Low abundance of small salmon was noted in 2001, 2007 and 2009 and for large salmon particularly low abundance was noted in the early 1990’s and 2007.
• Within Labrador, abundance of small salmon decreased over 2008 and is below the long term mean and overall abundance of large salmon has remained particularly low since the late 1980’s. The 2009 index of abundance of small salmon decreased substantially from the 2008 level and is below the long-term mean. The index of abundance of large salmon shows an increasing trend since 2003 although it has declined substantially since the 1970s and early 1980s.

Labrador (SFA 1-2 and 14B)

• In Labrador, returns of small salmon decreased in 2009 compared to 2008 at all four counting facilities.
• In 2009, numbers of large salmon decreased for two out of four rivers, increased on one and remained unchanged on a fourth compared to 2008. When compared to previous year means large salmon returns increased at two counting fences and did not change (<10%) at another counting fence. Overall, large salmon remained lower then prior to the closure of the commercial fishery. There remains concern with the low level of large salmon spawners in Labrador. (Table 2).
• Conservation requirements were met on only one of the four assessed rivers.
• Conservation spawning requirements for Labrador rivers have been defined as 190 eggs per 100 m²; of fluvial habitat which is assumed to include lacustrine habitat (Reddin et al. 2006).

Labrador SFA 1

• English River met conservation requirements in 2009 for a fourth consecutive year.
• In 2009, there was a decline in returns (>10%) of small salmon in SFA 1 compared to 2008 and to the previous 6-year mean.
• There was an increase in returns (>10%) of large salmon in SFA 1 compared to 2008 and to the previous 6-year mean.

Labrador SFA 2

• Sand Hill River did not meet the conservation requirements in 2009 but it did in a total of four out of 14 years (1970-73, 1994-96, and 2002-2009).
• Muddy Bay Brook did not meet conservation requirements in 2009 but it did in five of the last eight years.
• Southwest Brook (Paradise River) did not meet conservation requirements in 2009 as it did for seven out of eleven years.
• There was a decrease in returns of small salmon in SFA 2 compared to 2008 and declines at two while a third remained unchanged compared to six-year means at all three counting fences. (Table 2).
• There was an decrease in returns of large salmon in SFA 2 compared to 2008 at two counting fences while a third remained unchanged.

Newfoundland (SFAs 3-14A)

• Abundance levels of large and small salmon, on average, are below levels achieved prior to the moratorium. Low marine survival, since the late 1980’s, continues to be the major factor affecting overall abundance of Atlantic salmon within the insular portion of the region.
• Overall there was a decrease in returns of small and large salmon from returns in 2008. The returns of large salmon are the third lowest since the closure of the commercial fisheries in 1992. Small salmon returns increased on 6 rivers, decreased on 5 rivers and showed no change on the remaining 2 while large salmon returns increased on 4 rivers and decreased on 9 rivers as compared to the 1992-2008 mean.
• Conservation egg deposition was achieved on 7 of the 13 assessed rivers; Of the 6 rivers that did not achieve conservation 4 were rivers with newly opened habitat (Exploits, Terra Nova, Northwest and Rocky rivers) while Harry’s River and Conne River failed to achieve conservation.
• Overall mean sea survival of the 5 monitored rivers of the 2008 smolt class was amongst the lowest values observed and smolt to small salmon survival averaged less than 5%. Smolt out put for the 5 monitored rivers declined for four of the rivers from 2008 to 2009.

Northeast and Eastern Newfoundland (SFAs 3-8)

• Conservation egg depositions were achieved in three of the six stocks examined.
• Abundance of small salmon remained unchanged in 2 stocks and declined in four of the six stocks examined.
• Abundance of large salmon increased in one stock, remained unchanged in one stock and declined in four of the six stocks examined.
• Concern is expressed for the low egg deposition levels in the Upper Exploits watershed.

Southern Newfoundland (SFAs 9-11)

• Conservation requirements were achieved in two (Little River and Northeast Brook Trepassey) of the four rivers assessed (Table 2).

Southwest Newfoundland (SFAs 12-13)

• Only Harry’s River was assessed in 2009. Estimates of small salmon returns decreased in 2009 compared to 2008, while estimates of large returns showed no change. Counts at the Gallant’s counting facility are below the 5 year average. Egg deposition declined relative to 2008 but increased compared to the 1992-2008 mean.

Northwest Newfoundland (SFA 14A)

• Conservation requirements were exceeded in the two assessed rivers in 2009 (Torrent River and Western Arm Brook). Returns of small salmon at both facilities declined in 2009 compared to 2008 while returns of large salmon increased at Western Arm Brook but remained unchanged for Torrent River. Egg deposition at Western Arm Brook decreased in 2009 compared to 2008 and the 1994-2008 mean. At Torrent River the egg deposition decreased in 2009 compared to 2008 but remained unchanged from the 1992-2008 mean.

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