The Nashwaak Watershed

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Dismal Salmon Returns to the Nashwaak in 2012

December 3, 2012

As you inspect the grilse (1 sea winter fish) returns on the DFO web site you will see that grilse numbers were as low as 25% of 2004-2008 averages in many NB rivers, and this suggests that conditions were quite harsh (cold) in the Labrador Sea feeding grounds last winter.

While the marine environment was hard on fish from other NB rivers, the severity of the population decrease in the Saint John system was away out of proportion to that in other rivers with grilse numbers being 7% at Mactaquac and 4% on the Nashwaak of 2004- 2008 averages.

The crash of populations in the Saint John system in the mid 1990s was also much more severe than the declines experienced in the other NB rivers, and that “more severe decline” corresponded with the rapid rise of sea lice populations generated in Bay of Fundy salmon farms.

Natural conditions have salmon smolt moving out into the open ocean in late spring, long BEFORE the sea-lice-laden adults arrive to ascend their home rivers to spawn – so there are few sea lice eggs and sea lice juveniles available to infest the seaward migrating smolts, however with the advent of salmon aquaculture in the Bay of Fundy, sea lice eggs and sea lice juveniles are constantly being released into the water column unless they are almost completely controlled with pesticides.

When Bay of Fundy salmon farms gained almost complete control of sea lice using SLICE (Emamectin Benzoate) for a few years — Saint John river system salmon populations began to recover, with spectacular increased returns on the Nashwaak River (no dams here). Nashwaak returns seen on the website (above) are generally underestimates due to periods when the counting fence at Durham Bridge is not operational due to high water events, however numbers at the Mactaquac Dam on the main stem of the Saint John River, near Fredericton, are accurate as every fish moving upstream is counted there.

So here we are again. The salmon farming industry in the Bay of Fundy has recently lost almost complete control of sea lice because the parasites have developed resistance to SLICE, the only really effective pesticide that exists – and we are again faced with severe salmon population decreases in the Saint John River system.

It is doubtful that we can have robust Atlantic salmon populations in the Saint John system as long as the salmon farms are generating massive numbers of sea lice which drift in the water column to meet seaward migrating smolt in the spring. Reports from other areas around the Atlantic Ocean suggest that salmon smolt mortality approaches 100% when they acquire 9 or 10 sea lice during their outward migration.

If you have questions, comments or would like to discuss this further, feel free to contact me via email.

-Peter Salonius

Photo by Paul Nicklen ©2007 National Geographic Society

Filed Under: News & Events Tagged With: aquaculture, atlantic salmon, environment, grilse, new bruwnswick, returns

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NWAI on Twitter

We took part in a Wilderness First Aid Course this week. Blair Doyle ran us through realistic wilderness scenarios that taught us to keep a cool head and figure it out how to care for injured people in the great outdoors. Special thanks to @MCFTfredericton for hosting us! https://t.co/qUOHs7LYDO

- 3 days ago

World Migratory Bird Day was yesterday, 2022's theme is light pollution. Migratory birds travel throughout the day and night. Consider having your outdoor lighting on a timer and or motion sensor to reduce impact in the evening hours. #migratorybirdday2022 #lightpollution https://t.co/LVB2OR3q3o

- 4 days ago

Bio-diversify your yard like landscape photographer Jason Nugent of Devon, NB! Take the NWAI "Natural Yard Pledge" and commit to 3 of our 10 pledge actions to encourage native flora and fauna on your property and in your neighborhood. #MyNashwaak #NaturalYardPledge #nativespecies https://t.co/F7z5my7hnQ

- 11 days ago

Everyday is a great day for citizen science and yesterday was no exception when Bridgette L'Heureux her daughter partnered with NWAI to install @DucksUnlimited duck boxes on Marysville flats. https://t.co/tycwIAQijn #MyNashwaak #duckboxes #citizenscience #familyvolunteering https://t.co/xI14888UT3

- 12 days ago

Good Afternoon folks, unfortunately, we will be postponing the willow staking event scheduled for tomorrow, May 4th. We will let everyone know as soon as it has been rescheduled. We apologize for this inconvenience, but we hope to see you soon! https://t.co/4nB7pI6mE7

- 13 days ago

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Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.

Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.

Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.

3 days ago

Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.
Ian, Mariah, Lauren and Marieka took part in a Wilderness First Aid Course in Fredericton this week. Blair Doyle ran us through realistic wilderness scenarios that taught us to keep a cool head and figure out how to care for injured people in the great outdoors. Special thanks to Maritime College of Forest Technology for hosting us! #wildernessfirstaid #eauNBwater ... See MoreSee Less

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Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.

4 days ago

Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.
We have been busy this week at the NWAI with training and field work and so we are a day late in celebrating World Migratory Bird Day. All the same, the ways we can help with 2022's theme of light pollution are just as relevant today! Many migratory birds travel continuously throughout the day and night and the decisions we make about lighting our homes and properties matter. Consider having your outdoor lighting on a timer and or motion sensor to reduce the impact of unnatural light in the evening hours. These efforts are important as navigation by way of the stars is key to migrating birds. Tell your neighbors, share with friends, our community efforts have an impact. To learn more visit www.worldmigratorybirdday.org/#migratorybirdday2022 #lightpollution #migration ... See MoreSee Less

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Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.

1 week ago

Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.
Thanks so much to Community Forests International, UNB and YSC for sharing such great information with us about climate-focused forest management. What a wonderful day in the field! ... See MoreSee Less

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Contact Us

Mail:
Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.
P.O. Box 314, Station “A”
Fredericton, NB
E3B 4Y2

Office:
181 Westmorland Street
Fredericton, NB
E3B 3L6
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Phone: 506 261-4664
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