Information on Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) from Salmon Fishing Area 18 (Gulf Nova Scotia) of relevance to the development of a 2nd COSEWIC status report

Abstract

This document presents information on Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) for rivers in Salmon Fishing Area 18 (SFA 18; Northumberland Strait Nova Scotia and Western Cape Breton) of relevance to the development of the status report by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). There are 55 potential Atlantic Salmon rivers in SFA 18. Of these, the Gulf Nova Scotia (GNS) program focuses its monitoring efforts on four index rivers within SFA 18: The Margaree River, West River Antigonish, East River Pictou, and River Philip. For the Margaree River in 2019, the estimated eggs in the returns of small Salmon and large Salmon combined were 3.9 times greater than the lower reference point (LRP) value. The Salmon population has remained above the LRP for the duration of the Margaree monitoring program (1987 to present). However, returns to all rivers in SFA 18 remain below the long-term return average. The principal threats in SFA 18 are: habitat shifting and alteration, extreme temperatures, and droughts, all of which are related to global climate change.