COSEWIC Assessment and Status Report on the Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar Nunavik population, Labrador population, Northeast Newfoundland population, South Newfoundland population, Southwest Newfoundland population, Northwest Newfoundland population, Quebec Eastern North Shore population, Quebec Western North Shore population, Anticosti Island population, Inner St. Lawrence population, Lake Ontario population, Gaspé-Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence population, Eastern Cape Breton population, Nova Scotia Southern Upland population, Inner Bay of Fundy population, Outer Bay of Fundy population in Canada Nunavik Population – DATA DEFICIENT Labrador Population – NOT AT RISK Northeast Newfoundland Population – NOT AT RISK South Newfoundland Population – THREATENED Southwest Newfoundland Population – NOT AT RISK Northwest Newfoundland Population – NOT AT RISK Quebec Eastern North Shore Population – SPECIAL CONCERN Quebec Western North Shore Population – SPECIAL CONCERN Anticosti Island Population – ENDANGERED Inner St. Lawrence Population – SPECIAL CONCERN Lake Ontario Population – EXTINCT Gaspe-Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence Population – SPECIAL CONCERN Eastern Cape Breton Population – ENDANGERED Nova Scotia Southern Upland Population– ENDANGERED Inner Bay of Fundy Population – ENDANGERED Outer Bay of Fundy Population – ENDANGERED 2010 COSEWIC status reports are working documents used in assigning the status of wildlife species suspected of being at risk. This report may be cited as follows: COSEWIC. 2010. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar (Nunavik population, Labrador population, Northeast Newfoundland population, South Newfoundland population, Southwest Newfoundland population, Northwest Newfoundland population, Quebec Eastern North Shore population, Quebec Western North Shore population, Anticosti Island population, Inner St. Lawrence population, Lake Ontario population, Gaspé-Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence population, Eastern Cape Breton population, Nova Scotia Southern Upland population, Inner Bay of Fundy population, Outer Bay of Fundy population) in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. xlvii + 136 pp. (www.sararegistry.gc.ca/status/status_e.cfm). Previous report(s): COSEWIC. 2006. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar (Lake Ontario population) in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. vii + 26 pp. (www.sararegistry.gc.ca/status/status_e.cfm). COSEWIC. 2006. COSEWIC assessment and update status report on the Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar (Inner Bay of Fundy populations) in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. viii + 45 pp. (www.sararegistry.gc.ca/status/status_e.cfm). COSEWIC. 2001. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar (Inner Bay of Fundy populations) in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. vi + 52 pp. (www.sararegistry.gc.ca/status/status_e.cfm). Amiro, P.G. 2001. COSEWIC status report on the Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar (Inner Bay of Fundy populations) in Canada, in COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar (Inner Bay of Fundy populations) in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. 1-52 pp. Production note: COSEWIC acknowledges Blair K. Adams and David Cote for writing the status report on Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar (anadromous form) in Canada, prepared under contract with Environment Canada. This report was overseen by Paul Bentzen, Co-chair of the COSEWIC Marine Fishes Species Specialist Subcommittee with the assistance of Jamie Gibson, member of the COSEWIC Marine Fishes Species Specialist Subcommittee. For additional copies contact: COSEWIC Secretariat c/o Canadian Wildlife Service Environment Canada Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3 Tel.: 819-953-3215 Fax: 819-994-3684 E-mail: COSEWIC/[email protected] http://www.cosewic.gc.ca Également disponible en français sous le titre Ếvaluation et Rapport de situation du COSEPAC sur le saumon atlantique (Salmo salar) au Canada. Cover illustration/photo: Atlantic Salmon — Line drawing of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar from Amiro (2003). Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2011. Catalogue No. CW69-14/167-2011E-PDF ISBN 978-1-100-18548-4 Recycled paper COSEWIC Assessment Summary Assessment Summary – November 2010 Common name Atlantic Salmon – Nunavik population Scientific name Salmo salar Status Data deficient Reason for designation This species requires rivers or streams that are generally clear, cool and well-oxygenated for reproduction and several years of rearing, but undertakes lengthy feeding migrations in the North Atlantic Ocean as older juveniles and adults. This population, which breeds in rivers flowing into Ungava Bay and eastern Hudson Bay, is the northernmost population of the species in North America, and the westernmost population of the entire species. It is separated by approximately 650 km from the nearest population to the south. Little is known about abundance trends in this population, although limited catch per unit effort data suggest increased abundance in recent years. Occurrence Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, Atlantic Ocean Status history Species considered in November 2010 and placed in the Data Deficient category. Assessment Summary – November 2010 Common name Atlantic Salmon – Labrador population Scientific name Salmo salar Status Not at risk Reason for designation This species requires rivers or streams that are generally clear, cool and well-oxygenated for reproduction and several years of rearing, but undertakes lengthy feeding migrations in the North Atlantic Ocean as older juveniles and adults. This population breeds in rivers along the Atlantic coast of Labrador and southwest along the Quebec coast to the Napetipi Rivers (inclusive). Freshwater habitats remain largely pristine. Abundance data are not available for most rivers; however, for rivers for which data are available, the number of mature individuals appears to have increased by about 380% over the last 3 generations. Occurrence Newfoundland and Labrador, Atlantic Ocean Status history Designated Not at Risk in November 2010. iii Assessment Summary – November 2010 Common name Atlantic Salmon – Northeast Newfoundland population Scientific name Salmo salar Status Not at risk Reason for designation This species requires rivers or streams that are generally clear, cool and well-oxygenated for reproduction and the first few years of rearing, but undertakes lengthy feeding migrations in the North Atlantic Ocean as older juveniles and adults. This population breeds in rivers along the northeast coast of Newfoundland, from the northern tip of the island to the southeastern corner of the Avalon Peninsula. Recent abundance data show no clear trends in the number of mature individuals. Since 1992, the negative effects of poor marine survival have been at least partially offset by a near cessation of fishing mortality in coastal fisheries. Illegal fishing is a threat in some rivers. Occurrence Newfoundland and Labrador, Atlantic Ocean Status history Designated Not at Risk in November 2010. Assessment Summary – November 2010 Common name Atlantic Salmon – South Newfoundland population Scientific name Salmo salar Status Threatened Reason for designation This species requires rivers or streams that are generally clear, cool and well-oxygenated for reproduction and the first few years of rearing, but undertakes lengthy feeding migrations in the North Atlantic Ocean as older juveniles and adults. This population breeds in rivers from the southeast tip of the Avalon Peninsula, Mistaken Point, westward along the south coast of Newfoundland to Cape Ray. The numbers of small (one-sea-winter) and large (multi-sea- winter) salmon have both declined over the last 3 generations, about 37% and 26%, respectively, for a net decline of all mature individuals of about 36%. This decline has occurred despite the fact that mortality from commercial fisheries in coastal areas has greatly declined since 1992; this may be due to poor marine survival related to substantial but incompletely understood changes in marine ecosystems. Illegal fishing is a threat in some rivers. The presence of salmon aquaculture in a small section of this area brings some risk of negative effects from interbreeding or adverse ecological interactions with escaped domestic salmon. Genetic heterogeneity among the many small rivers in this area is unusually pronounced, suggesting that rescue among river breeding populations may be somewhat less likely than in other areas. Occurrence Newfoundland and Labrador, Atlantic Ocean Status history Designated Threatened in November 2010. iv Assessment Summary – November 2010 Common name Atlantic Salmon – Southwest Newfoundland population Scientific name Salmo salar Status Not at risk Reason for designation This species requires rivers or streams that are generally clear, cool and well-oxygenated for reproduction and the first few years of rearing, but undertakes lengthy feeding migrations in the North Atlantic Ocean as older juveniles and adults. This population breeds in rivers from Cape Ray northwards along the west coast of Newfoundland to approximately 49°24’ N, 58°15’ W. Both small (one-sea-winter) and large (multi-sea-winter) salmon have increased in number over the last 3 generations, about 132% and 144%, respectively, giving an increase in the total number of mature individuals of about 134%. Occurrence