Leonard Nicholas, the fishery strategy director for Tobique First Nation, views Atlantic salmon in a unique light, considering them as relatives or ancestors rather than just aquatic creatures. He emphasizes the longstanding coexistence between humans and these salmon species, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts to protect their population.
The Tobique River, a tributary of the Wolastoq (St. John River), once boasted a thriving salmon population with tens of thousands in the 1980s. However, recent data from the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans indicates a drastic decline, with only a few hundred salmon returning annually to the river, primarily to Mactaquac Dam.
Despite the challenges faced by the salmon population, the Mactaquac Biodiversity Facility operated by DFO has played a crucial role in sustaining their numbers. UNB biologist Tommi Linnansaari compares the situation to a patient on life support, highlighting the facility’s role in maintaining the salmon population.
The facility’s operations involve transporting salmon past hydroelectric dams and raising juvenile salmon for release upstream to facilitate reproduction. However, DFO plans to close the facility in the upcoming fall, raising concerns among stakeholders about the future of the salmon population in the Wolastoq region.
Christine Lyons, a spokesperson for DFO, acknowledges the persistently low salmon returns despite significant conservation efforts over the past 25 years. The impending closure of the facility has sparked worries among First Nations communities and biologists, who fear the detrimental impact on the Wolastoq salmon, also known as outer Bay of Fundy salmon.
Nicholas expressed disappointment over the abrupt closure announcement, lacking proper consultation or warning from DFO. He and his team are now tasked with managing juvenile salmon without the support of the facility. To address this challenge, the Canadian Rivers Institute at UNB has stepped in to assist in transporting and monitoring the smolts downstream.
The declining trend in salmon numbers has raised concerns about the endangered status of Wolastoq salmon. Former fisheries director John Perley questions the federal government’s reluctance to designate them as endangered under the Species at Risk Act (SARA), citing political considerations as a hindrance to conservation efforts.
The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada has assessed the outer Bay of Fundy salmon as endangered, attributing population declines to various factors like dams, invasive species, pollution, and climate change. However, the bureaucratic process and political influences have delayed the official listing of the species as endangered.
The uncertainty surrounding the future of Wolastoq salmon has prompted First Nations representatives like Patrick Polchies and community leaders to advocate for continued support from DFO. Their efforts include engaging with parliamentary committees to raise awareness about the plight of Atlantic salmon populations in the region.
While discussions about the endangered status of outer Bay of Fundy salmon continue, stakeholders await the federal government’s decision. The complexity of socio-economic factors, scientific assessments, and public input complicates the listing process under SARA, underscoring the challenges in addressing the declining salmon population effectively.