A federal advisory group has broadened its list of imperiled Atlantic salmon populations, sparking concerns among conservation organizations in Cape Breton. The alteration raises worries that recreational fishing for this iconic East Coast species might be restricted in large parts of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia. While the Department of Fisheries and Oceans acknowledges this possibility, they emphasize that it is not a definite outcome.
The revised assessment status was disclosed during recent federal fisheries meetings with stakeholders, following a reassessment by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) of salmon populations, encompassing those along Nova Scotia’s entire coast and across the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. Rene Aucoin, president of the Cheticamp River Salmon Association, expressed surprise at the decision, highlighting the strong salmon population in the western Cape Breton river over the past decade, which he believes contradicts the endangered classification.
According to Bill Hailey, vice-president of the Margaree Salmon Association, while salmon in New Brunswick’s Miramichi River are facing challenges due to a growing striped bass population, the situation in the Margaree River remains favorable. Both Hailey and Aucoin are apprehensive that COSEWIC might recommend adding Nova Scotia and southern Gulf salmon populations to the Species at Risk Act, potentially leading to the cessation of recreational angling activities.
Officials clarify that the process to list a species as endangered under federal legislation is lengthy and intricate, involving consultations with the public, conservation groups, industry stakeholders, and Indigenous communities. Despite the opportunity for public input and opposition against a permanent status change for salmon, stakeholders remain concerned about the extended timeline for any decision to take effect.
Robert Jones, DFO’s Gulf region biodiversity management manager, emphasizes that while an endangered listing is feasible, it is not assured, as decisions will consider scientific advice and socio-economic factors. Jones underscores the severity of the conservation issue, particularly for the endangered populations in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, as identified by COSEWIC.
DFO initiated an Atlantic salmon conservation strategy last year, aiming to restore fish stocks, but critics argue that insufficient funding hampers the strategy’s effectiveness. Jones notes that COSEWIC will present recommendations to Environment and Climate Change Canada in the fall, with the process integrating economic, conservation, social, and Indigenous perspectives.