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Atlantic Salmon Watch Program (ASWP)
What is
the Atlantic Salmon Watch Program? The Atlantic Salmon Watch Program (ASWP) is a cooperative
research program operated by Fisheries and Oceans Canada with funding from the BC
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. The purpose of the program is
to study the abundance, distribution and biology of Atlantic salmon in British Columbia and its adjacent waters. The
ASWP monitors commercial and sport catches and observations of Atlantic
salmon throughout British Columbia, Alaska and Washington in co-operation with the Alaska
Department of Fish and Game and the Washington Department of Fish and
Wildlife. The program relies on fishers, fish processors, government field
staff and hatchery workers to report observations of Atlantic salmon.
How do
you distinguish Atlantic salmon from Pacific salmon? The key distinguishing feature
of Atlantic salmon is black spots on the gill cover. For more details on
Atlantic Salmon Click here
What do you do if you catch an Atlantic salmon? Keep the fish and
report the capture by calling the ASWP toll-free reporting line at 1-800-811-6010. You will be asked where and when
you caught the fish and if you wish to donate the fish for research
purposes. Donation is not mandatory but it does provide valuable samples
for our scientific study. For donation, the whole fish, including entrails,
should be frozen or kept on ice. ASWP staff will arrange for transport of
the fish carcass.
The A.S.W.P. publishes an annual report of its findings in the
Manuscript Report Series of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. The
program strives to provide an accurate and unbiased accounting of Atlantic
salmon in British Columbia
and its adjacent waters.
The following tables are
updated on the last day of each month. All data are the property of the
Atlantic Salmon Watch Program and should be considered preliminary until
final publication.
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Please report all captures of Atlantic
salmon to
the toll-free ASWP Reporting Number
1- 800 - 811 - 6010
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Contacts:
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