Research Document 1997/20

Stock Status of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in the Miramichi River, 1996

By G. Chaput, D. Moore, J. Hayward, B. Dube, M. Hambrook

Abstract

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in the Miramichi River, New Brunswick, were harvested by two user groups in 1996; First Nations and recreational fishers. The Aboriginal food fishery catches in 1996 represented an increase of 37% for small and 33% for large salmon relative to the previous five years. Just over half of the large salmon (54%) harvests and 75% of the small salmon harvests were taken prior to Sept. in 1996. Recreational fishery catches for 1996 were not collected. The Crown Reserve catches suggested that angling catches were similar to the 1990 to 1994 average catch. For the Southwest Miramichi, 30241 small salmon and 15734 large salmon were estimated to have returned in 1996. After accounting for all removals, egg depositions in the Southwest Miramichi by both small and large salmon were 114% of the conservation requirement. For the Northwest Miramichi, 18884 small salmon and 7957 large salmon were estimated to have returned. Egg depositions by small and large salmon in the Northwest in 1996 were 132% of conservation requirement. Egg depositions have exceeded the conservation requirements in each branch during the last five years. The 1997 forecast for large salmon returning to the Miramichi is 29933 with a 72% probability of meeting spawning requirements. The increased densities of juvenile salmon, since 1985 for fry and 1986 for parr, at the index sites sampled since 1971, indicated that the long-term prospect for the Atlantic salmon stock of the Miramichi is for continued and increased abundance of salmon.

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