Terms of Reference

Stock Status Update of Atlantic Salmon in Salmon Fishing Areas (SFAs) 19-21 and 23

Regional Science Response Process – Maritimes Region

March 10, 2022
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

Chairperson: Tara McIntyre

Context

Science advice on the status of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) in Salmon Fishing Areas (SFAs) 19-21 and 23 has been requested by the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Fisheries and Aquaculture Management Branch. The advice will be used to inform Aboriginal groups, the provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and recreational and interested stakeholders of the status of salmon resources in the DFO Maritimes Region in advance of developing harvest agreements and recreational fishing plans for 2022. During Recovery Potential Assessments of Atlantic Salmon Designatable Units (DUs) within the DFO Maritimes Region, stock status and trends were assessed in 2012 for the Southern Upland DU (Bowlby et al. 2013), and in 2013 for the Outer Bay of Fundy DU (Jones et al. 2014) and Eastern Cape Breton DU (Levy et al. 2014). The last status update for Atlantic Salmon in SFA 19 was completed in 2021 (DFO 2021). In 2020, surveys were not completed on index rivers in SFAs 20, 21, and 23 due to COVID restrictions; therefore the last status update for Atlantic Salmon in SFAs 20, 21, and 23 was completed in 2020 (DFO 2020).

Objectives

The objectives of this regional Science Response Process is to assess the status of Atlantic Salmon stocks in Salmon Fishing Areas (SFAs) 19, 20, 21, and 23 up to the end of 2021 using the following indicators:

• adult abundance relative to reference levels;
• juveniles densities; and
• smolt production estimates.

Expected Publications

• Science Response

Expected Participation

• DFO Maritimes Maritimes Science
• DFO Maritimes Fisheries Management
• Indigenous Organizations

References

• Bowlby, H.D., A.J.F. Gibson, and A. Levy. 2013. Recovery Potential Assessment for Southern Upland Atlantic Salmon: Status, Past and Present Abundance, Life History and Trends. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2013/005.
• DFO. 2021. Stock Status Update of Atlantic Salmon in Salmon Fishing Areas (SFAs) 19–21 and 23. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2021/032.
• DFO. 2020. Stock Status Update of Atlantic Salmon in Salmon Fishing Areas (SFAs) 19–21 and 23. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2020/031.
• Jones, R.A., L Anderson, and C.N. Clarke. 2014. Assessment of the Recovery Potential for the Outer Bay of Fundy Population of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar): Status, Trends, Distribution, Life History Characteristics and Recovery Targets. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2014/008.
• Recovery Potential Assessment for Eastern Cape Breton Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar): Status, Past and Present Abundance, Life History, and Trends. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2014/099.