Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Atlantic Salmon

1. Answer:

Yes, please click on the following links for all the details pertaining to each province :

• New Brunswick
• Nova Scotia
• Prince Edward Island

2. Answer:

Since 2015, the Atlantic Salmon recreational fishery has been a catch-and-release only fishery in the Gulf Region due to decreasing trends in salmon returns. Prior to 2015, anglers were able to retain a certain number of grilses (48-63 cm in length) depending on the province, via a tag system.

Since 2020, the daily catch and release limit in New Brunswick for the Restigouche and Miramichi river watersheds was reduced from ten to five Atlantic Salmons during the Spring fishery from April 15 to May 15, 2020 and reduced from four to two for the remainder of the season. For Prince Edward Island, the catch and release limit is two salmons per day and for Nova Scotia it is four salmons per day. The same daily catch and release measures are still in effect to this day.

Most Indigenous communities in the Gulf Region are still allowed to catch both adult salmon and grilse for food, social or ceremonial (FSC) purposes. Voluntary conservation measures have been adopted by some Indigenous communities in recent years to reduce pressure on adult salmon.

Striped Bass feed opportunistically on a wide variety of plankton, insects, fish, and crustaceans. The size of the prey increases as striped bass grow, starting with zooplankton and larval fish, then progressing to small fish, shrimp and other crustaceans as the bass develop. Striped Bass are generalist predators and will eat available prey in proportion to its availability in the environment.

Recent studies on the predator-prey interaction between native Striped Bass and Atlantic salmon (smolts) in the Miramichi River have provided direct and indirect evidence that Striped Bass consume variable numbers of emigrating salmon smolts annually. It is not clear whether this natural predator-prey dynamic is limiting the number of returning adult salmon to the Miramichi river as the survival of smolts in the ocean environment continues to be very low across the species range.

A precautionary approach is a measure that provides predetermined rules for decision-making that dictate reasonable fishing effort based on the state of the stocks. Under a precautionary approach framework, management measures must promote stock growth and removals must be kept to the lowest possible level until the stock has cleared the critical zone.

DFO continues to work with Indigenous groups and stakeholders on a precautionary approach framework to manage the Atlantic salmon fisheries, with the goal to establish one for the Miramichi River system as a first step in the coming years, and for other salmon rivers draining into the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence in the future. In the meantime, cautious management must continue to avoid aggravating the situation of low salmon returns seen in recent years.

Factors influencing salmon survival include the continued stress from high water temperatures and various other ecosystem changes in rivers and oceans due to climate change and other human-induced pressures. The resulting ecosystem changes range from modifications in ocean temperatures, currents and primary productivity to alterations in habitats, water quality, food chains and predators.