Research Document - 1999/027

Status of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) in the Bouctouche River in 1998

By G. Atkinson, G. Sanipass, V. Leblanc, S. LeBlanc and N. LeBlanc

Abstract

Due to egg depositions well below conservation requirements in recent years, the angling season was closed and there was no First Nation allocation of salmon on the Buctouche River in 1998. A mark-recapture experiment was the basis of estimating returns; tags were applied at two estuarial trapnets and recovered at a counting fence in freshwater. Total large salmon returns were estimated at 102 and total small salmon returns at 92. Respective spawning escapements were 101 and 91. Total egg deposition was only 33% of the conservation requirement, representing a decrease of 52% relative to 1997. 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 an analysis of various management scenarios indicates that even with all fisheries closed, there is only a 1% probability that conservation requirements will be met on the Buctouche River in 1999.

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