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Mid Season Salmon Review Shows Improved Returns, Major Poaching Charges
St. John’s - A mid-season review of the 2004 salmon season by Fisheries and Oceans in the Newfoundland and Labrador Region shows improved salmon returns on more than two thirds of the province’s rivers and the break-up of numerous commercial scale poaching operations throughout the province.
“Thirteen of nineteen rivers where DFO has established counting facilities in the province have shown improvement,” stated The Honorable Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. “It is encouraging to see that our long term investment in protecting Atlantic Salmon stocks and their habitat in Newfoundland and Labrador is showing positive results.”
Salmon research conducted by DFO’s Science Branch on the current status of Atlantic salmon in the province indicates that the number of fish through the 19 fishways is up or on par with counts for the past two years. At-sea survival, however, remains highly variable and generally low, even with reductions in directed marine fisheries since 1992. Efforts by DFO scientists to determine why counts are down on some rivers, and examine ways in which these populations can be rebuilt will continue.
Special watershed management plans have also been developed over the years, and as a result some rivers such as the Exploits River in central Newfoundland have seen 27,350 salmon return in 2004. This is down slightly from 2003 returns but up dramatically from the 15,880 recorded in 2002. There is a similar increase on the Conne River on the south coast, where 3,759 salmon returned so far this year, up from 1,918 in 2003, and on Terra Nova River where returns in 2004 are 3,095 to date as compared to 2,539 in 2003.
The 2004 salmon season has also been marked by successful enforcement efforts that have resulted in more than 130 charges being laid to date with more pending. These charges include serious offenses such as netting. Numerous significant poaching operations in coastal and inland waters have also been shut down.
“At the end of the 2003 season, departmental staff met with stakeholders province-wide and there was agreement that we needed to focus our efforts on these organized poaching rings that pose the greatest threat to conservation,” stated Minister Regan. “The apprehensions so far this season are clear evidence of the dedication of our field staff and show this strategy is working.”
DFO’s inland enforcement program has been assisted by the province’s decision in July to assign conservation officers to inland enforcement. “I am pleased to see the province taking steps in this direction and am encouraged by the positive results of federal and provincial co-operation so far,” said Minister Regan. “I’m glad to hear the Premier shares my concerns and recognizes a provincial role in stewardship of this important resource. I hope to see the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador continue this commitment for years to come.”
Fishery officers and fishery guardians have conducted numerous stakeouts and special operations over the summer, and the thousands of hours of surveillance have paid off with the cracking of a number of significant commercial poaching operations. Assisted by provincial conservation officers, three separate stakeouts in eastern Newfoundland and Labrador in July resulted in conviction of five men for salmon violations, and fines totaling nearly $10,000. A total of 19 charges were laid this month against four individuals following a stakeout on the Branch River. In this case, 78 salmon were seized. In St. Brendan’s, Bonavista Bay in June, an estimated 100 salmon – some bottled, some frozen whole and in chunks – were seized from four individuals when DFO exercised warrants to search their properties. They have each been charged with possession of fish caught in contravention of the Fisheries Act, and fishing coastal salmon during closed time. On the province’s west coast, fishery officers have laid 17 charges of jigging salmon this summer, and have seized more than 60 nets from coastal and inland waters. In central Newfoundland, DFO fishery officers and guardians, working with Federation of Newfoundland Indians (FNI) guardians, Gander River monitors and provincial wildlife officers have seized 75 nets to date. More property seizures are expected in connection with 60 charges that will be laid for netting, and other offenses. In Labrador, there have been numerous successful convictions for salmon violations, including possession of untagged salmon that have resulted in significant penalties. In co-operation with provincial conservation officers, a poaching operation was recently uncovered on the Black Bear River, near Black Tickle, Labrador.
“We will continue to expand community stewardship initiatives and stakeholder involvement to conserve Atlantic Salmon populations,” stated Minister Regan. “Dramatic increases in salmon returns on the Northwest River and Harry’s River, two locations where successful partnerships with working groups have been established, are a clear sign of the success that can be realized when communities take an active role in protecting salmon.”
A comprehensive assessment will be undertaken at the close of the 2004 salmon season. Consultations with the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, stakeholders, and community partners are planned for this fall to examine ways to continue to strengthen DFO’s strategy on inland compliance. A key component of these discussions will be to further build on the deployment of the twenty provincial conservation officers who are available for assignment on a seasonal basis.
For more information:
Bob Fagan
Communications Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
St. John’s, NL
(709) 772-7627
Brian Underhill
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ph: (613) 992-3474
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