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C S A S S C C S Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat Secrétariat canadien de consultation scientifique Research Document 2009/080 Document de recherche 2009/080 Review of DFO Science information Examen de l’information scientifique for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) détenue par le MPO sur les populations populations in the eastern Cape de saumon atlantique (Salmo salar) Breton region of Nova Scotia dans la région de l’est du Cap Breton, en Nouvelle-Écosse A.J.F. Gibson and Heather D. Bowlby Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Science Branch, Maritimes Region P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, N.S. Canada, B2Y 4A2 This series documents the scientific basis for the La présente série documente les fondements evaluation of aquatic resources and ecosystems in scientifiques des évaluations des ressources et Canada. As such, it addresses the issues of the des écosystèmes aquatiques du Canada. Elle day in the time frames required and the traite des problèmes courants selon les documents it contains are not intended as échéanciers dictés. Les documents qu’elle definitive statements on the subjects addressed contient ne doivent pas être considérés comme but rather as progress reports on ongoing des énoncés définitifs sur les sujets traités, mais investigations. plutôt comme des rapports d’étape sur les études en cours. Research documents are produced in the official Les documents de recherche sont publiés dans language in which they are provided to the la langue officielle utilisée dans le manuscrit Secretariat. envoyé au Secrétariat. This document is available on the Internet at: Ce document est disponible sur l’Internet à: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas/ ISSN 1499-3848 (Printed / Imprimé) ISSN 1919-5044 (Online / En ligne) © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2009 © Sa Majesté la Reine du Chef du Canada, 2009 Maritimes Region 2009: Atlantic Salmon TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract....................................................................................................................................... v Résumé....................................................................................................................................... vi 1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 1 2.0 Index Rivers .......................................................................................................................... 1 2.1 Middle River ................................................................................................................. 1 2.2 Baddeck River.............................................................................................................. 3 2.3 North River ................................................................................................................... 5 2.4 Grand River.................................................................................................................. 6 2.5 Clyburn River (Brook)................................................................................................... 8 2.6 Trends in Index Rivers ................................................................................................. 8 3.0 Other Rivers.......................................................................................................................... 9 3.1 Recreational Catch Data .............................................................................................. 9 3.2 Electrofishing Data ....................................................................................................... 9 4.0 Biological Characteristics...................................................................................................... 10 5.0 Threats to Populations .......................................................................................................... 11 6.0 Summary and Conclusions ................................................................................................... 11 7.0 Acknowledgements............................................................................................................... 12 8.0 References............................................................................................................................ 12 9.0 Tables ................................................................................................................................... 16 10.0 Figures ................................................................................................................................ 30 11.0 Appendices ......................................................................................................................... 45 Appendix 1. Estimation of Abundance and Trends for Atlantic Salmon in Middle River, Victoria County, Nova Scotia .............................................................. 45 Appendix 2. Estimation of Abundance and Trends for Atlantic Salmon in Baddeck River, Victoria County, Nova Scotia .............................................................. 62 Appendix 3. Recreational Catch and Effort Data for Salmon Fishing Area 19 .................. 75 iii Maritimes Region 2009: Atlantic Salmon iv Maritimes Region 2009: Atlantic Salmon Correct citation for this publication: La présente publication doit être citée comme suit : Gibson, A.J.F., and H. D. Bowlby. 2009. Review of DFO Science information for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) populations in the eastern Cape Breton region of Nova Scotia. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2009/080. vi + 79 p. ABSTRACT The purpose of this document is to provide background information on Atlantic salmon in the eastern Cape Breton region (Salmon Fishing Area 19) of Nova Scotia in support of a review of the status of Atlantic salmon populations in eastern Canada by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. There are 30 rivers with reported Atlantic salmon catches within SFA 19, although salmon may be or may have been present in other smaller streams in the region. Salmon populations on the east side of the Bras d’Or Lakes generally inhabit lower gradient streams and mature at a younger age than salmon populations on the west side of the lakes, suggesting that there may be some genetic structuring among populations within this region. Salmon population monitoring in eastern Cape Breton is focused on five river systems: Middle, Baddeck, North, Grand and Clyburn. Assessments in these rivers are based on recreational catches, as well as fishery-independent counts of salmon by diver surveys, except in Grand River where only recreational catch data are used at present. An index-based assessment model for the Middle and Baddeck populations is used for the first time in this assessment. Of these five populations, two (Grand and Clyburn) show marked declines in adult abundance over the last 15 years and a third (North) has declined significantly over the last 20 years. The other two populations (Middle and Baddeck) appear to be more or less stable but at abundance levels well below their conservation requirements. Only one population (North) is estimated to be above its conservation requirement. Status of salmon in other rivers is based on recreational catch data and intermittent electrofishing surveys. In recent years, reported recreational fishing effort has been concentrated on the North, Baddeck and Middle rivers and has remained relatively unchanged on the rivers where salmon are known to occur. These observations could indicate that abundance is low in most other rivers. This result is consistent with the electrofishing data which shows that juvenile salmon abundance is not high at many locations, even though juvenile salmon are still widely distributed in eastern Cape Breton. Overall, the status of salmon populations in SFA 19 with respect to extinction risk is uncertain, although abundance tends to be low. This conclusion is consistent with the geographic location of these populations. To the south is the Southern Uplands where declines are ongoing and river-specific extirpations have occurred, and to the west in western Cape Breton and the Gulf of St. Lawrence where abundance in at least some populations is increasing. v Maritimes Region 2009: Atlantic Salmon RÉSUMÉ Le présent document de recherche a pour objet de fournir de l’information contextuelle sur le saumon atlantique dans la région de l’est du Cap Breton (zone de pêche du saumon (ZPS) 19) de la Nouvelle-Écosse en appui à l’examen de la situation des populations de saumon atlantique dans l’est du Canada par le Comité sur la situation des espèces en péril au Canada (COSEPAC). On a signalé des prises de saumon atlantique dans 30 rivières de la ZPS 19, mais le saumon peut être ou ne pas être présent dans d’autres petits cours d’eau de la région. Les populations de saumon sur le côté est du lac Bras d’Or se trouvent habituellement dans les ruisseaux en contrebas et viennent à maturité plus vite que les populations de saumon sur le côté ouest du lac, ce qui porte à croire que ces populations au sein de la région pourraient présenter une structuration génétique. La surveillance de la population de saumon dans la région est du Cap Breton porte sur cinq réseaux fluviaux : Middle, Baddeck, North, Grand et Clyburn. Les évaluations de ces rivières sont fondées sur les prises récréatives, ainsi que sur des relevés indépendants de la pêche au saumon effectués par des plongeurs, sauf à Grand River, où seules les données sur les prises récréatives sont utilisées