Research Document 1998/33

Status of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in the Bouctouche River in 1997

By G. Atkinson and V. LeBlanc

Abstract

Angling effort, as determined from a telephone survey, indicated that at least 6 large salmon were released, 4 small salmon were retained, and 1 was released. Aboriginal community harvest was five large and 25 small salmon. A mark-recapture experiment was the basis for estimating returns: tags were applied at two estuarial trapnets and recovered at a counting fence in freshwater. Total large salmon returns were estimated at 200 and total small salmon returns at 97. Respective spawning escapements were 191 and 67. Total egg deposition was 70% of the conservation requirement, representing an increase of 52%, relative to 1996. Juvenile densities at the sites surveyed were generally higher than previous years but still well below optimum, confirming that spawning in recent years has been inadequate. At present, sufficient information on stock status has not been accumulated to forecast returns, but with five consecutive years well below requirements (mean: 56%) it is unlikely that conservation requirements will be met on the Buctouche River in 1998. In this event there will be no harvestable surplus of large or small salmon.

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