Summer Heat Slows Atlantic Salmon Activity
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]his year and last there has been a strong response to the kill figures showing for some Quebec rivers.
Charles Cusson, ASF Director of Quebec Programs, discusses some of the issues surrounding the topic.
How can Quebec be persuaded to increase its conservation commitment? In some ways it already is. Here are a few facts about what is happening now:
As of early July, 2015, there remain 11 out of 109 registered rivers in Quebec where a large salmon (63 cms / 2-feet 8-inches) can be harvested.
Special measures implemented by the MFFP (Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks) for the 2015 season are forcing counts on these rivers sooner in the season than would usually be done.
Data from an in-river count done on the York River in Gaspé late last month revealed a deficit in the number of large spawners to that date. Consequently, live release of large salmon was implemented for the rest of the season as of July 6.
Of the remaining rivers data from counting facilities or in-river counts will be completed in the next week, conditions permitting.
A Great 4 July – Julia Carpenter releases a salmon on the Southwest Miramichi. Photo Nathan Wilbur/ASF.
New Plan
Looking towards the near future, the MFFP has announced a new Atlantic salmon management plan will be in effect for 2016 which should contain more accurate procedures on calculation of minimum spawning requirements, a reduction in the number of harvest tags, and likely an improved decision process in regards to harvesting of large salmon. These are just a few of the expected modifications.
According to the MFFP, the plan will be available to the FQSA, affiliates, ZECS and others for consultation and comment during autumn 2015.
Are Quebec’s existing rules of salmon retention better or worse than in other provinces?
For better and worse, here are the numbers of grilse and large salmon killed, and those released:
From the 2005 to 2014 angling seasons, the following numbers have been reported: 46,556 grilse harvested, 29,871 salmon harvested and 83,027 fish (salmon and grilse) released.
During that same period, the sale of Live Release license resulted in steady growth in both the resident and non-resident classification from 3,305 in 2005 to 4,142 last year.
Should the harvest be reduced further? Certainly there are persuasive arguments related to success of the runs in total – issues such as multi-sea- winter salmon successfully returning to sea and then back to their rivers. Nevertheless, great progress has been made over the past 10 year period using the river by river management system.
In the interim, FQSA, our regional council in Quebec promotes wild Atlantic salmon conservation and has close relations with the government.
Are anglers becoming more conservation oriented?
Data results from a poll directed at a credible sample of salmon anglers that fish in the province of Quebec in 2014 revealed a major shift in thinking for the long term benefit of the resource.
The direction the Quebec government takes in regards to conservation should be guided by these results and will hopefully be reflected in the management plan.
Read More Quebec Rivernotes . . .
NOTE: FEATURE STORY IMAGE CREDIT CHRISTOPHER MINKOFF OF FEMALE ATLANTIC SALMON
