Fisheries Pêches and Oceans et Océans DFO Science Maritimes Region Stock Status Report D3-01 Atlantic Salmon Chaleur Bay SFA 15 Background Salmon Fishing Area (SFA) 15 includes northern New Brunswick; major rivers are the Restigouche, Nepisiguit and Jacquet. Juvenile salmon generally remain in fresh water for two to three years. Adult stages consist of small salmon (fork length <63 cm) and large salmon (fork length ≥ 63 cm). Most small salmon spend one year at sea before returning to spawn. Most large The Fishery salmon returning to the Nepisiguit River have spent two years at sea. The Aboriginal and recreational fisheries took Restigouche River stock has components of place in all three rivers. Four First Nations both two- and three-sea-winter fish. Most and members of the New Brunswick large salmon are female. Small salmon in Aboriginal Peoples Council (NBAPC) fished the Restigouche River are >98% male The in 1996 under agreements with DFO (in Restigouche stock is early-run, with most N.B.) or with the Quebec Ministère de returns in June and July. Most other rivers l’Environnement et de la Faune. Gillnets, of SFA 15 have a later run, primarily in trapnets and angling gear were used. September-October. The early run has been enhanced through stocking in the Recreational angling in New Brunswick Nepisiguit River. (including provincial boundary waters of the Restigouche River) was regulated by Conservation requirements for each river seasonal and daily limits of eight and two are based on 2.4 eggs/m2 of river habitat. small salmon, respectively, with no retention The objective is to obtain this egg deposition of large salmon. Quebec waters of the from the large salmon component. Small Restigouche system were regulated by salmon requirements are defined to provide seasonal (seven salmon) and daily (one a 1:1 sex ratio. salmon) limits irrespective of size; but if the first fish caught in a day was a small salmon, April 1997 Maritimes Region Atlantic Salmon Chaleur Bay SFA 15 a second fish of any size could be caught and River Bright salmon catch retained. Angling seasons varied among (C=retained+released) or harvest rivers Angling of “bright” salmon returning (H=retained) to the river to spawn in the current year was 1996 1995 Mean 1991-95 permitted in all rivers of SFA 15. All except RESTIGOUCHE the Restigouche and Nepisiguit had spring Large C 3823 2792 3264 angling seasons directed at kelts (salmon H 1001 866 861 which spawned the previous autumn). Small C 3414 1589 3394 NEPISIGUIT Large C 420 300 276 River Angling season Small C 580 450 687 RESTIGOUCHE:Main June 1-Sept. 15 (hook-and- H 450 350 540 river, N.B. tributaries release only after Aug. 31) JACQUET Matapedia, Patapedia June 1-Aug. 31 Large C - 0 55 (Que.) Small C - 61 67 Kedgwick (Que.) June 1-Sept. 30 NEPISIGUIT June 1-Oct. 15 JACQUET Apr.15-May 15 (kelt) Small and large salmon catches have been June 1-Oct. 30 (bright) declining since 1986-1988 in the Restigouche River. Harvests by First Nations communities on the three rivers were estimated as 1226 large Restigouche and 183 small salmon. 7000 6000 River Salmon harvest Large Small 5000 Restigouche 1198 95 4000 Nepisiguit 28 84 3000 Jacquet 0 4 2000 Total SFA 15 1226 183 1000 0 Recreational angling catches were higher in Angling catch/Captures sportives 70 72 74 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 1996 than in 1995 in both the Restigouche and Year/Année Nepisiguit Rivers. No angling data were Large/Grand Small/Petit available for the Jacquet River in 1996. Small Angling catches of both large and small salmon catch in the Restigouche River was salmon in the Nepisiguit River have declined more than double the 1995 catch. since 1988. Nepisiguit 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 Angling catch/Captures sportives Year/Année Large/Grand Small/Petit 2 Maritimes Region Atlantic Salmon Chaleur Bay SFA 15 Resource Status assessment method using the assumed 30% exploitation rate indicated that egg Inputs deposition and large salmon escapement were about 93% of the conservation Restigouche River: Spawning escapement requirement. Small salmon spawning was calculated as angling catch divided by escapement was about three times the angling exploitation rate minus river harvest requirement. Total returns of large salmon and other removals (e.g., broodstock to the river probably exceeded the collections). Angling exploitation rate was conservation requirement for spawning assumed to be 30%. Poaching-and-disease escapement by about 4,000 fish. mortality was incorporated into the calculation of total returns to the river; 14% Large Small % of of the small salmon and 16% of the large salmon salmon conservation salmon population entering the river were RESTIGOUCHE Cons. req. 12,200 2,600 assumed lost to poaching and disease. Returns 16,332 13,251 Spawners 11,382 7,914 Nepisiguit River: The stock assessment was Eggs 66.6 million 93% based on counts at a counting fence, adjusted for its efficiency using angling catch above NEPISIGUIT Cons. req. 1,626 823 the fence. The unadjusted fence count Returns 1,178 1,036 underestimated returns since much of the Spawners 976 499 late run entered the river following fence Eggs 5.9 million 62% removal and a number of small salmon escaped through the fence in early summer. JACQUET Spawning escapement was estimated above Cons. req. 412 250 Returns 337 600 the fence and extrapolated to the whole river Spawners 333 524 using the number of redds above and below Eggs 2.4 million 89% the fence. Restigouche Jacquet River: The stock assessment was based on returns to the barrier fence 120 operated by the New Brunswick Department 100 requirement/besoin of Natural Resources and Energy. 80 Mortalities at the fence were subtracted to 60 obtain the number of salmon released above 40 the fence. Estimated angling mortality on 20 bright fish, and an assumed native harvest, Eggs/Oeufs (millions) 0 were subtracted from the stock above the 70 72 74 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 fence to obtain spawning escapement. Year/Année Status Nepisiguit River: Spawning escapements of both large and small salmon in the Nepisiguit Restigouche River: The level of precision in were below conservation requirements. Egg the estimate of escapement suggests that the deposition was estimated as 62% of the conservation requirement was approached conservation requirement. Returns of large and possibly achieved. The angling-based salmon were about 500 less than the required spawning escapement. Returns of small 3 Maritimes Region Atlantic Salmon Chaleur Bay SFA 15 salmon exceeded spawning requirements by Outlook about 200 fish. Conservation requirements have been met or exceeded in only 2 of 13 Compared to pre-1984 levels, densities of all years since 1984. age classes of juvenile salmon have increased in both the Restigouche and Nepisiguit rivers Nepisiguit 16 in the past decade. However, over the past 14 five years, densities of parr have been requirement/besoin 12 relatively stable, suggesting that there will be 10 no significant change in returns to both rivers 8 in the future unless marine survival improves. 6 4 Restigouche - JUVENILES Eggs/Oeufs (millions) 2 120 0 100 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 Year/Année 80 60 Jacquet River: Spawning escapement of #/100m2 40 large salmon in the Jacquet River was below the conservation requirement but small 20 0 salmon spawners were twice the required 74 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 number. Egg deposition was estimated as Year/Année 89% of requirement. This is the first time Age 0 Age 1 Age 2 that egg deposition requirements have not Nepisiguit - JUVENILES been met in the three years in which a stock 40 assessment has been done on this river. Returns of large salmon were about 100 fish 30 less than the spawning escapement requirement. 20 #/100 m2 10 Environmental Considerations 0 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 Summer water levels in rivers of SFA 15 Year/Année Age 0 Age 1 Age 2 were much higher in 1996 than in 1995 when record low discharges were reported. As a result, water temperatures were lower and Given that spawning escapement angling conditions were considered to be requirements have been met in the Jacquet better. Low autumn water levels were River in two of the past three years and observed in the Restigouche system. almost achieved in the third year (89%), it is Furunculosis, which was very common in the likely that the requirement will be met in Restigouche River in 1995, was rarely coming years. observed in 1996. 4 Maritimes Region Atlantic Salmon Chaleur Bay SFA 15 Management Considerations Canadian Stock Assessment Secretariat Research Document 97/18. None of the three SFA 15 rivers assessed in 1996 exceeded egg deposition requirements for conservation. Both Restigouche and Jacquet river stocks only approached This report is available from the: conservation requirements. The Nepisiguit stock fell well short of the requirement but Maritimes Regional Advisory Process concerns exist about the requirement being Department of Fisheries and Oceans excessive. Accordingly, the precautionary P.O. Box 1006, Stn. B105 approach to management is recommended Dartmouth, Nova Scotia for all three stocks. Specifically, no increase Canada B2Y 4A2 in the level of exploitation of large salmon Phone number: 902-426-7070 should be considered in the coming year and, e-mail address: [email protected] if feasible, reductions should be made on the Restigouche and Nepisiguit river stocks. As Internet address: http://csas.meds.dfo.ca in other years, there should be surpluses of small salmon in all three rivers, particularly La version française est disponible à l’adresse the Restigouche and Jacquet rivers.