Terms of Reference

Stock Assessment of Atlantic Salmon in Newfoundland and Labrador

Regional Peer Review – Newfoundland and Labrador Region

February 27-29, 2024

St. John's, NL and Hybrid

Co-chairs: Hannah Murphy, Harry Murray

Context

There are 15 Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) management areas, known as Salmon Fishing Areas (SFAs) 1 14B, in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). Within these areas there are approximately 407 rivers with reported Atlantic Salmon populations characterized by differences in life history traits including freshwater residence time, age at first spawning, and the extent of ocean migrations.

The last full stock assessment of Atlantic Salmon in NL was completed February/March 2023 for 2022 returns. During March 2022, a stock status update was completed for Atlantic Salmon in NL (DFO 2023).

DFO completes a full assessment of Atlantic Salmon on a two-year cycle. In 2014, to prioritize conservation concerns regarding Atlantic Salmon stocks, Science implemented indicators that would trigger a full stock assessment in two scenarios where significant declines in salmon returns were observed in years where there was no full assessment scheduled. These scenarios are:

• o >30% decline in total returns on ≥50% of our monitored rivers in any given year; or
• o >25% decline in total returns on ≥50% of our monitored rivers in 2 consecutive years.

In 2023, 17 rivers had sufficient time series data to compare adult returns to the previous generation average. Of these 17, 13 rivers showed declines in total returns with nine (53%) having declines over 30%. 13 rivers had sufficient time series data to compare adult returns to the previous two generation average. Of these 13, 11 rivers showed declines in total returns with eight (62%) having declines over 30%. In response to a >30% decline in total returns on ≥50% of our monitored rivers, a full stock assessment was triggered for 2024.

Resource Management will use information from this Regional Peer Review Process to inform the 2025 Salmon Management Approach.

Objectives

• Assessment of Atlantic Salmon in NL (Salmon Fishing Areas 1-14B).
• Consider ecosystem status where the assessed Atlantic Salmon stocks occur based on an overview including relevant summaries of oceanographic conditions, biological community structure and trends, and pertinent knowledge of ecological interactions (e.g., predator, prey) and stressors (e.g., anthropogenic impacts).

Expected Publications

• Science Advisory Report
• Research Document

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Ecosystems and Oceans Science, Aquatic Ecosystems, and Fisheries Management sectors)
• Parks Canada
• Government of Newfoundland and Labrador – Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
• Indigenous groups
• Academia
• Other invited experts

References

• DFO. 2023. 2021 Stock Status Update of Atlantic Salmon in Newfoundland and Labrador. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2023/036.