Terms of Reference

Assessment of Atlantic Salmon in Newfoundland and Labrador

Regional Advisory Meeting - Newfoundland and Labrador Region

March 2-4, 2021
Virtual Meeting

Chairpersons: Corey Morris and Roanne Collins

Context

There are 15 Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) management areas, known as Salmon Fishing Areas (SFAs) 1-14B, in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) (Fisheries and Oceans Canada [DFO] 2018). Within these areas there are more than 370 rivers with reported Atlantic Salmon populations characterized by differences in life history traits including freshwater residence time, age at first spawning, and the extent of ocean migrations.

The last full stock assessment of Atlantic Salmon in NL was completed for 2018 returns in March 2019 (DFO 2020a). During March 2020, a stock status update was completed for Atlantic Salmon in NL (DFO 2020b).

Fisheries Management will use information from this Regional Peer Review Process to inform the current salmon management plan.

Objectives

• Assessment of Atlantic Salmon in NL (Salmon Fishing Areas 1 - 14B).
• Consider ecosystem status where the assessed Atlantic Salmon stocks occur based on an overview including relevant summaries of oceanographic conditions, biological community structure and trends, and pertinent knowledge of ecological interactions (e.g., predator, prey) and stressors (e.g., anthropogenic impacts).

Expected Publications

• Science Advisory Report
• Proceedings
• Research Document

Expected Participation

• DFO (e.g., Ecosystems and Oceans Science, Ecosystems Management, and Fisheries Management sectors)
• Government of Newfoundland and Labrador – Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
• Indigenous groups
• Academia
• Other invited experts

References

• DFO. 2020a. Stock Assessment of Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Salmon in 2018. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2020/038.
• DFO. 2020b. 2019 Stock Status Update for Atlantic Salmon in Newfoundland and Labrador. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2020/045.