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We’ve reached peak summer conditions in much of salmon country. This time of year it’s especially important to be mindful of water temperatures. Familiarize yourself with best live release practices, and consider another activity when the water is warmer than 20 degrees Celsius (68 Fahrenheit).
This week’s Rivernotes opens with a special mid-season analysis of Gulf of St. Lawrence salmon runs from ASF’s Nathan Wilbur. He writes:
“Angling has been generally slow across the board this summer on rivers that empty into the Gulf of St. Lawrence – in Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and parts of Newfoundland. That is not the case everywhere, however, with early season assessment numbers showing strong returns in many rivers that do not empty into the Gulf. For example, in central Newfoundland and in Labrador, returns in many cases are 2 to 5 times greater than the previous 5-year average. “Strong” may not be the best word to describe Penobscot returns down in Maine, but year-to-date it’s the second best run in over a decade.
So, why such a stark difference between Gulf rivers versus non-Gulf rivers? If we rewind the clock, last year grilse numbers were the lowest on record throughout the Gulf region, but highest on record in Labrador. This suggests something happened to the smolt in the spring of 2022 as they were migrating through the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
One hypothesis is that, based on ASF’s long-term tracking research and modeling oceanographic conditions, we know that survival is low when the Gulf sea surface temperature warms quickly. And in 2022, it warmed faster than it ever has. When it warms quickly, smolt need to expend energy migrating north instead of feeding, possibly leaving them less robust as they enter the challenging conditions of the Labrador Sea and their first, and most challenging year at sea. When water warms slowly, smolt can spend their time feeding and migrating slowly, gaining strength and size before entering the Labrador Sea.
The temperature that appears to drive smolt migration through the Gulf is about 10 degrees Celsius, presumably because smolt are chasing prey items that need cooler temperatures. The Gulf warms in such a way that the southern region warms first, and the warming tracts north through the Strait of Belle Isle – the direction smolt migrate to the North Atlantic.
Whether rapid warming in the Gulf is driving survival, or it is something else, something affected smolt survival in the spring of 2022 resulting in a low grilse return last year. It appears to be manifesting now as a low return of 2 sea-winter salmon this year in Gulf-bound rivers. The 2 sea-winter salmon component is normally the mainstay of the run in most Gulf rivers and when that part of the demographic is low, it’s noticeable.
All of this points to the need to adapt conservation strategies to mitigate against the impacts of climate change, and the need to ensure we have to most, healthiest, and strongest wild smolt leaving our river system. In ASF’s strategic plan, we have three new freshwater programs designed to make progress on ensuring cold, clean water and healthy freshwater ecosystems. The Wild Salmon Watersheds program is focused on long term planning and creating a network of resilient watersheds, the Headwaters program is focused on removing barriers to fish passage and enhancing cold water sanctuaries, and lastly, we are advocating for more landscape protections to ensure healthy forests, in line with Canada’s 30×30 protections commitment.”
Charles Cusson, Quebec Program Director, gives a full report from his region. (English text below). Charles writes:
“Les conditions sur la plupart des rivières du Québec demeurent pour le moins très difficiles. L’eau chaude et basse continue d’être la réalité à ce stade de la saison.
En réponse, certains gestionnaires de rivières prennent des mesures pour protéger les saumons qui ont migré vers leurs rivières natales jusqu’à ce jour. Par exemple, la Société Sipuminu a publié ce communiqué le 16 juillet pour la rivière Cascapédia.
« En raison de la température toujours chaude qui rend l’eau si chaude et extrêmement basse, nous recommandons fortement de pêcher uniquement le matin jusqu’à ce que l’eau et les conditions météorologiques changent. Si les guides souhaitent sortir le soir, ce sera à leur discrétion. La tige principale se réchauffe l’après-midi en raison du chauffage des branches supérieures.
Pour nos pêcheurs à gué non guidés, vous pouvez continuer à commencer une heure avant le lever du soleil et la rotation de midi est toujours appliquée, mais nous recommandons de pêcher uniquement le matin jusqu’à ce que l’eau et les conditions météorologiques changent. Si vous souhaitez sortir le soir, ce sera à votre discrétion. »
Si des poissons sont capturés, ne les jouez pas longtemps et relâchez-les lorsqu’il est possible de le faire en toute sécurité pour le saumon ou de couper la ligne. Pas de photo du saumon hors de l’eau; si vous voulez une photo, gardez le saumon dans l’eau.
La santé et le bienêtre de nos saumons sont l’aspect le plus important. Nous comprenons que certains pêcheurs ne seront pas contents, mais malheureusement, la chaleur et la température de l’eau sont considérées comme « un cas de force majeure » qui échappe à notre contrôle.
Certains saumoniers ont connu du succès malgré les conditions. Christian Kirouac de la région de Montréal pêchait sur la rivière Petite-Cascapédia et a relâché ce magnifique saumon. Claudel Francoeur, un contributeur fréquent a notre blogue, était heureux de croiser le fer avec une belle offrande de la rivière Bonaventure.
Récemment, l’APSB (Association des pêcheurs sportifs de la rivière Bonaventure) a publié les statistiques du mois de juin. Au total, 270 poissons ont été pêchés (256 poissons relâchés et 14 madeleineaux récoltés). Par rapport à la même période en 2023, où un total de 539 poissons ont été pêchés (513 poissons relâchés et 26 madeleineaux récoltés).
Au Québec, les pêcheurs attendent très prochainement une décision du gouvernement qui va déterminer le déroulement de la deuxième moitié de la saison. Un article publié par Radio-Canada donne un aperçu de la saison à ce jour sur la Côte-Nord du Québec. Baisse significative des montaisons de saumons dans les rivières de la Côte-Nord | Radio-Canada.”
“Conditions on most of Quebec rivers continue to be challenging to say the least. Warm and low water is the continuing to be the norm at this point this season. In response, some river managers are taking action to protect the salmon which have migrated to their natal rivers to date. For example, the Sipuminu Society published this release on July 16th for the Cascapedia River: ‘Due to the continuing hot temperature which makes the water so warm and extremely low, we strongly recommend fishing only in the morning until water and weather conditions change. If the guides want to go out in the evening that will be at their discretion. The main stem warms up in the afternoon hours due to the heating of the upper branches. For our unguided wade anglers, you can continue to start one hour before the sun rises and the noon rotation is still enforced but we recommend fishing only in the morning until water and weather conditions change. If you want to go back out in the evenings that will be at your discretion.’
If any fish are caught, please do not play them long and release them when it is safe to do so for the salmon, or cut the line. No pictures of the salmon out of the water; if you want a picture keep the salmon in the water. The health and well being of our salmon are the most important aspect. We understand that some anglers will not be happy but unfortunately, the heat and water temperatures are beyond our control.
Recently the APSB (Bonaventure Sport Angling Association) released statistics for the month of June. A total of 270 fish were landed (256 fish released and 14 grilse harvested) in comparison to the same period in 2023 when a total of 539 fish were landed (513 fish released and 26 grilse harvested).
In Quebec, anglers are awaiting a decision very soon from the government on how the remainder of the season will unfold.”
Jed Wright Fellow Laura Romania reports from the headwaters of the Penobscot River:
“In the headwaters of the Pleasant River, a key tributary in the Penobscot River watershed, an exciting restoration opportunity is being undertaken by the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) on their vast network of forestry roads. Through a partnership with the Atlantic Salmon Federation, Maine Department of Marine Resources, and NOAA Restoration Center, AMC plans to restore stream connectivity across its 114,000 acres of land within the Pleasant River Watershed. This project involves replacing 13 undersized road-stream crossings along these forestry roads on headwater streams, aiming to improve critical habitat for Atlantic salmon, native brook trout, and other wild and aquatic life.
Last week, I joined Maine’s Habitat Restoration Project Manager, Jeff Reardon, to collect water temperatures and photographs at these crossings in preparation for construction efforts to be completed later in the summer. Pictured below is the outlet of a crossing site we attended. From this view it’s easy to visualize some of the common issues of discontinuity that we witnessed across most of these AMC crossings: the outlet of this culvert is above the occurring grade of the stream and precludes upstream movement, and the width of flow inside the culverts is constricted and much narrower than the natural streambank.
Challenges like this are typical of many road-stream crossings in the United States, but by recognizing the importance of habitat continuity, it’s possible to correct our past mistakes. At AMC, each of these 13 culverts will be replaced with individually engineered structures, marking great strides towards the ultimate goal of reconnecting the Penobscot River Watershed.
Learn more about this partnership here.”
ASF’s Nathan Wilbur, Vice-President of Regional Programs, reports from New Brunswick:
“A sweltering New Brunswick this July has kicked into effect ‘morning fishing only’ under DFO’s warm water protocols on the Nepisiguit, Miramichi, and Restigouche rivers. The majority of all three systems are currently restricted to angling from 6 am to 11 am when temperatures are conducive.
Please refer to the public notices here for details: Miramichi, Nepisiguit, Restigouche.
Despite the heat, much of the province was doused with 50 mm of rain last week. The welcomed rain brought many of our rivers up, cooled them down, and left both anglers and fish with prime conditions for a few days over the weekend.
While water conditions have varied, by all accounts fishing has been slow, and returns seem low so far this season to New Brunswick rivers. A certain component of the run will be biding their time in the estuary waiting for the right conditions to make their move upriver, which may not come until nights cool down in August and September.
Despite what may turn out to be a slow year, there are still fish in the rivers and we encourage anglers to take advantage of good conditions when they come, spend time on the water, and have fun. Your presence on the water not only fills up your cup with enjoyment, but also deters poachers especially in remote areas.”
A final item from New Brunswick is a celebration of life for Jim Gillespie, which will take place on August 20th from 1-5pm at HRAA Conservation Center, 10 Porter Road, Nauwigewauk.
NS Program Director Deirdre Green reports:
“Late last week, sections 1 & 3 of the Margaree river were closed under DFO’s Warm Water Protocol—one week earlier than last season’s closure of fifteen days. Although heat warnings remain in effect, after two moderate bumps of rainfall, Section 2 (NE above Doyle’s Bridge) of the Margaree fished well over the weekend.”
Program Director Kim Thompson writes:
“It’s the mid-way mark of July, and anglers report seeing salmon in rivers, however anglers are not that successful in getting them to take the fly. July water temperatures have been creeping up, with normal to low water levels in most rivers across the province. This has triggered Fisheries and Oceans to enact protocols on some rivers, to closing angling or restricting angling to morning only (where angling is permitted from one hour before sunrise to 10:00 am each day and then closed to angling from 10:01 am to one hour before sunrise on the following day). For up-to-date information on river closures and re-openings visit the Fisheries and Oceans NL In Season River Status.
As of July 13, 2024, a province-wide outdoor fire ban prohibiting setting of fires on forest land or within 300 metres of forest land is now in effect. Significant firefighting resources are currently dedicated to wildfire suppression near the communities of Labrador West. This is a stressful time for those impacted by the wildfires in Labrador. Wishing the upmost safety to all, including emergency response teams who are battling the wildfires and volunteers who are assisting those who are displaced. The latest information on the location, status, and size of active wildfires can be viewed online at the NL Active Wildfire Dashboard.
To round out the week, it was a wonderful surprise to meet up with ASF directors, C.D. and Tracey Clarke in my neck of the woods. Thanks to Kastine Coleman for coordinating!”
Hannah Hynes, Project Coordinator for the Salmonid Association Eastern Newfoundland (SAEN) and the Conservation Corps NL, provides a great update on the work they are presently conducting on Rocky River:
“Historically, the Rocky River watershed did not support a run of wild anadromous salmon due to a 6m, impassable falls at the mouth of the river. In the 1980’s, SAEN worked in collaboration with DFO to stock the river with salmon fry and repair a previously-built concrete fishway that would allow anadromous salmon to surmount the falls during spawning season. In 1987, the first adult salmon returned to the river system. Returns have been monitored each year since, peaking in 2010 with almost 1000 recorded returns. Since then, salmon returns have been in decline, with less than 150 salmon returning in 2023. SAEN is working in collaboration with DFO and Memorial University to investigate the watershed this field season for reasons for this decline. SAEN’s role is to complete watershed assessments throughout the system, looking for potential habitat degradation, areas of pollution, barriers to migration and other factors that could be playing a role in salmon declines in Rocky. The long-term goals of this project are to create a watershed management plan for the area and increase local participation in salmon conservation. We have seen interest from locals in getting involved in this project, with a stewardship group already starting to take form, which is promising for the future of Atlantic salmon in Rocky River.”
