March 20, 2014 - Moncton, New Brunswick
Fisheries and Oceans Canada wishes to inform the public of three important changes in management measures for Atlantic salmon recreational angling in New Brunswick, in 2014.
The management changes include: the expansion of the catch and release measures on the Northwest Miramichi River system, a reduction in the number of small salmon that can be retained for the season from eight to four in the Atlantic salmon recreational fishery and a reduction in the daily retention limit from two to one in the Salmon Fishing Area (SFA) 15. SFA 15 comprises the area from River Restigouche up to, but excluding the Tabusintac River.
Here are the details about the expansion of the catch and release measures on the Northwest Miramichi River system:
From June 1 until July 31, 2014, catch and release will be mandatory in the Northwest Miramichi River system and its tributaries upstream from the Red Bank Bridge on Route 425.
For the rest of the season, the following waters will remain catch and release:
- Portions of Little Southwest Miramichi and its tributaries upstream from Catamaran Brook;
- The portion of Northwest Miramichi River and its tributaries upstream from Little River;
- The portion of both the north and south branches of the Big Sevogle River and their tributaries upstream from but not including Square Forks.
In the last 10 years, the number of salmon returns to the Northwest Miramichi system has been lower than the minimum required for a sustainable population, except in 2011. From 2010 to 2013, the Department implemented a mandatory live release of all salmon caught in portions of the river system to increase spawner abundance. The measures announced today extend the mandatory live release to the entire Northwest Miramichi river system, including all tributaries. Starting in 2014, the measures are to remain in place until further notice.
The Department is also harmonizing its daily retention limit for Atlantic salmon in New Brunswick. All New Brunswick rivers where Atlantic salmon can be retained have currently a daily retention limit of one grilse (small salmon), with the exceptions of rivers in the Bay of Chaleur. With this measure, the daily retention quota for Atlantic salmon will now be the same across the province. However, portions of the Restigouche and Patapedia rivers, located next to the province of Québec, will remain with a daily retention limit of two grilse.
The three management measures announced today will help the efforts of achieving conservation objectives for Atlantic salmon in New Brunswick.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada is committed to safeguarding the long-term health and productivity of Canada’s fisheries resources, and the habitat that supports them, for generations to come.
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For more information:
Communications Branch
Fisheries and Oceans Canada,
Gulf Region
506-851-7747
Steve Hachey
Communications Advisor,
Gulf Region
506-851-7045
