ASF - ASF Rivernotes 6 May 2021

ASF Research Scientist Jason Daniels throws an acoustic receiver overboard earlier this week on the Miramichi River. It will be one of many that can track Atlantic salmon smolt heading out to sea on their migration. The tracking research also provides valuable information on predation by striped bass in the Miramichi estuary. Graham Chafe/ASF

NOT ENOUGH HOURS IN THE DAY

Early May is a total scramble to get all the ASF research tasks completed in order to track wild Atlantic salmon down their rivers and across vast ocean distances.

Jonathan Carr, ASF Vice-President of Research and Environment, was on the Nepisiguit.

I had the opportunity to assist with kelt tagging on the Nepisiguit River last week being conducted in a wide-ranging Environmental Studies Research Program partnership involving Gespe’gewaq Mi’gmaq Resource Council (GMRC), Pabineau First Nation, the Nepisiguit Salmon Association, the Restigouche River Watershed Council, DFO, DNR and others. Everyone is pulling together to see this vital tracking research succeeds in understanding the charismatic wild Atlantic salmon.

I personally benefitted through being able to explore the Nepisiguit River to become more familiar with the many initiatives led by the Nepisiguit Salmon Association (NSA).

Just a snapshot of some NSA activities includes use of drones to conduct redd counts and to identify siltation and habitat impediments in the river, collection of water temperature data for DFO/PFN/NSA, monitoring juvenile and adult populations, and operation of a stream side incubation unit for a fry supplementation program.

Special thanks to Michel Poitras (NSA Project Manager) and Billie Chiasson (NSA volunteer) for providing the river tour.

On the Nepisiguit River, Carole-Anne Gillis of GMRC implants an acoustic transmitter into a kelt this week. Billie Chiasson assists with the surgery. Photo Charlene Labillois/GMRC

In the Miramichi River system, every day is important in getting the vital research underway.

Earlier this week ASF Research staff were deploying acoustic receivers in the Miramichi system. The acoustic devices implanted in smolt in both the Northwest Miramichi and at Rocky Brook on the Southwest Miramichi transmit signals that are registered by the receivers as the fish pass by, providing identification information. The research also garners absolutely essential information on the predation by striped bass in the Miramichi estuary.

Jonathan Carr notes:

The Miramichi Salmon Association installed smolt wheels at Wayerton Bridge on the NW Miramichi on May 3, and acoustic tagging of smolt will begin soon on that river.

Two Miramcihi Salmon Association rotary trap smolt wheels seen from the Wayerton Bridge on the Northwest Miramichi. The smolt run has started and will likely peak over the next two weeks. Robyn McCallum/MSA

Neville Crabbe, ASF Director of Communications, visited the Northwest Miramichi on Tuesday of this week. He says:

The warming water has smolt on the move in the Northwest Miramichi.

I visted the river Tuesday with a crew from Radio Canada and CBC, highlighting the conservation work of ASF and its partners in the watershed. Watch for the story next week, including drone footage of the new cold-water enhancement project at Wildcat Brook.

Lyndsay Jay-Keating, Miramichi Salmon Association biologist, speaks with Radio Canada national reporter Maude Montembeault while videographer Pierre Richard records. Keating is leading a mark-recapture study of out-migrating smolt at the Wayerton bridge. Neville Crabbe/ASF

Devin Ward, senior biologist for Anqotum Resource Management, holds a baby lamprey eel caught in a smolt wheel at Wayerton N.B. Neville Crabbe/ASF

Striped Bass

The upsurge in striped bass over the past decade has taken a toll on the number of Atlantic salmon smolt surviving their journey from stream to sea. The arrival of striped bass in the lower Miramichi system is not good news for these smolts.

For anglers, the striped bass have become a strong reason to visit this area, and certainly any reduction in their numbers is small but good news for Atlantic salmon.

The video below was taken this week on the Little Southwest Miramichi River.

https://vimeo.com/545493563

Petitcodiac

The river now flows under the first part of the newly constructed bridge, and will soon run completely free. Chris Bragdon’s drone view of the river on Apr. 28 gives cause for celebration.

Nathan Wilbur has been watching the Nashwaak River closely. There has been only very modest flooding this year, and the hope is that there will be sufficient flow during the summer months.

Nashwaak River on 4 May, 2021, showing the greening up of the river banks. Nathan Wilbur/ASF

Another view of the Nashwaak River on 4 May, 2021. Nathan Wilbur/ASF

MAINE

Atlantic Salmon "Species in the Spotlight" Action Plan

https://www.asf.ca/assets/files/SIS-Action-Plan-2021_AtlanticSalmon-FINAL-508.pdf

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has just released an extremely readable update of the Atlantic salmon action plan for the next several years.

The 16-page document highlights the principal issues for Atlantic salmon in the U.S., with emphasis on the need to remove dams and improve fish passage, and the problem of reduced genetic diversity in the surviving population.

The report even features photos of adult Atlantic salmon in the Sandy River, one branch of the Kennebec.

The importance of connecting headwater streams is emphasized, something that ASF is very involved in through our Maine Headwaters Project.

The document also highlights the importance of the tracking at sea being undertaken by NOAA, ASF and KNAPK to better understand the travel of Atlantic salmon returning from Greenland waters towards the U.S. in particular.

One of the satellite pop-off transmitters was identified as being on an Atlantic salmon returning to Maine. It did "pop off" while the Atlantic salmon was east of Newfoundland.

Penobscot

Jason Valliere, Scientist with Maine’s Department of Marine Resources, wrote on Apr. 30:

Been a bit of a roller coaster ride temperature-wise at Milford. Last few days we have been climbing again and more numbers of herring and more species have started showing up. No salmon yet but we expect to see one any day now.

Smolt traps are being operated by Maine Department of Marine Resources. Colby Bruchs is in charge of the Narraguagus and East Machias smolt wheels, while Jennifer Noll is handling the Sandy River smolt wheel.

Narraguagus

In the smolt wheel at the Snomobile Bridge just above Route 9 (the Airline), there were 279 smolts caught by May 4, all naturally reared.

East Machias

There were 50 smolts captured at Jacksonville Briddge, of which 49 were from the East Machias Hatchery and 1 was wild.

Sandy River

The smolt migration is picking up momentum. There were 474 smolts caught by May 4. This is the first time a smolt survey has been undertaken on this river, and the results are proving to be exciting.

Smolt being assessed on the Sandy River on Wed., May 5. Maranda Nemeth/ASF

On the morning of Wed., May 5, 2021 the smolt wheels on the Sandy River were working well. Maranda Nemeth/ASF

NOVA SCOTIA

The Northeast Margaree River from Doyle's Bridge on Monday morning. Photo Alex Breckenridge

In Nova Scotia there are new lockdown measures, and no one is certain what Covid-19 health provisions will be in place this summer.

Alex Breckenridge notes that Atlantic salmon flies he sells from The Tying Scotsman shop he runs are normally placed outside the building, and folks play either with an etransfer or a debit card.

Naturally he also has a significant internet following.

Etheridge Pool on the Margaree River on Monday. Photo Alex Breckenridge

THE LAST WORD

The chances of crossing international borders for Atlantic salmon angling seem to be dropping. A new assessment by CBC noted both the volatile Covid-19 situation as well as differences in vaccination rates, and the need for governments to agree on provisions for reopening. CBC’s assessment was that it might be possible by autumn, but unlikely before that time.

This is definitely a blow to all. Many in the rural areas surrounding Atlantic salmon rivers gain employment through the angling economy. And many of the greatest supporters of conservation and restoration of Atlantic salmon runs need to exercise even more patience. They need to find connections with their special rivers for the sake of the Atlantic salmon and their future.

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