DFO announces five-year Atlantic Salmon Management Plan
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St. John's ... Fisheries and Oceans Canada today announced a new five-year
(2002-2006) Atlantic Salmon Management Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador,
based on the Adaptive Management Strategy and river classification system
that has been in place for the past three years.
The Adaptive Management Strategy enables DFO to manage rivers based on
conservation considerations and the health of individual stocks. Rivers are
classified based on stock abundance and bag limits, i.e., the number of
salmon that can be retained, are set as per the classification of the river.
For example, Class I rivers have the highest retention levels, while Class
IV rivers are hook and release only. Throughout the management plan, DFO
will monitor salmon runs through the various assessment facilities, and, if
warranted, adjustments in bag limits will be made to protect the spawning
stocks.
For Newfoundland, the classification of 49 of the province's 177 scheduled
salmon rivers is being reduced from Class II (four fish retention) to Class
III (two fish retention) for 2002. These reclassifications will primarily be
for rivers on the Northeast Coast (Zones 3, 4 and 5), and on the South Coast
(Zones 9, 10, 11 and 12), where only two rivers (Grey River and Long Harbour
River) will remain Class II. While the Gander and the Exploits Rivers will
remain Class I rivers, retention levels have been reduced from six to four
fish for 2002.
In addition, as a result of some improvement to salmon stocks, the
Highland's River, South-West River and Salmon Brook, Port Blandford and
Rocky River will be designated Class IV rivers and opened to hook and
release angling. These rivers were previously closed to all angling. All
other rivers and sections in Newfoundland and Labrador that were closed in
2001 for conservation reasons will remain closed to all angling in 2002.
Classifications will be re-evaluated annually for the duration of the plan.
Adjustments will be made where necessary to address conservation concerns of
DFO scientists who have determined that overall salmon stocks have declined,
primarily on the South Coast. This will ensure that catch levels do not
jeopardize conservation.
For Labrador, the new five-year management plan contains a rollover of the
current management strategies, with some exceptions:
* The management measures for Zones 1 and 2 will continue on most
rivers, with anglers being permitted four fish, one of which may be large
(over 63 cm).
* Selected rivers in Southern Labrador will remain Class III, allowing
retention of two grilse. A grilse measures less than 63 cm from the tip of
the nose to the fork of the tail. This measure was implemented in 2001 as a
precautionary measure for rivers made accessible by the construction of the
Trans-Labrador Highway. The impact of the highway on salmonid stocks will be
further assessed by a special working group of the Labrador Salmon Advisory
Board.
* A review of the classification of Southern Labrador rivers will be
conducted in the fall of 2002, and adjustments will be made as required to
address any conservation concerns.
* In the Lake Melville area and northern coastal communities, the
aboriginal fishery will continue. The Labrador Inuit Association (LIA) will
maintain a quota of 10 metric tonnes. The Innu Nation will maintain a quota
of 1,500 salmon.
* The resident salmon fishery will also continue in Southern Labrador,
with residents being permitted to retain four salmon as a by-catch in the
trout net fishery.
* The department will expand its monitoring coverage of Labrador
salmon stocks in 2002 by establishing additional monitoring facilities at
Sand Hill and Pinware Rivers.
The Adaptive Management Strategy is supported by the Newfoundland Salmonid
Advisory Committee and the Labrador Salmon Advisory Board which are
comprised of representatives from the provincial government, aboriginal
organizations, conservation groups, outfitters associations and anglers.
Full details of the salmon management plan, such as bag limits, season
limits, individual river classification and season dates, will be contained
in the 2002 Anglers Guide. A list of rivers that have been reclassified is
available by calling the angling line at (709) 772-4423.
For more information:
Berkley Slade Kimberley
Penney
Staff Officer - Recreational and Inland Fisheries
Communications
Fisheries Management Fisheries Management
(709) 772-2643 (709) 772-7626
Kimberley Penney
Communications Officer
Fisheries Management
(709) 772-7626
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