Terms of Reference

Stock Status Update of Atlantic Salmon in Newfoundland and Labrador

Regional Peer Review - Newfoundland & Labrador Region

November 18-19, 2024

St. John's, NL

Chairpersons: Hannah Murphy and Harry Murray

Context

There are 15 Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) management areas, known as Salmon Fishing Areas (SFAs) 1 to 14B, in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). In these areas there are approximately 407 rivers that have 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.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) follows a biennial (two-year) cycle for full stock assessments of Atlantic Salmon in NL. Since 2014, however, DFO Science has introduced specific indicators that trigger assessments in non-scheduled years if conservation concerns arise. These indicators are:

1. A greater than 30% decline in total returns on greater than or equal to 50% of monitored rivers in a single year; or
2. A greater than 25% decline in total returns on greater than or equal to 50% of monitored rivers in two consecutive years.

In response to declines in salmon returns in 2024, and in consideration that the last full NL Atlantic Salmon stock assessment took place in February 2024, a Science Response Process is being used to update stock status using data collected during the 2024 season. DFO Resource Management will use information from this Regional Peer Review Process to inform the 2025 Salmon Management Approach.

Objectives

The objectives of this process are to update:

• 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 the latest available ecosystem data.

Expected Publications

• Science Response

Expected Participation

• DFO Ecosystems and Oceans Science
• DFO Resource Management
• Indigenous Communities / Organizations
• Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
• Other Invited Experts