Signs of hope and despair for N.B. salmon population – CBC

Nov 11, 2024

Healthy spawning scene belies record-low return numbers

Atlantic salmon returns were at their lowest level ever this year, say researchers, who are nevertheless refusing to give up hope that the species can rebound.

“The times have never been this dire,” said Tommi Linnansaari, a biology professor at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, whose research laboratory almost exclusively studies Atlantic salmon.

In the Miramichi River system, for example, the target population for species conservation would be a few thousand fish, but only about 50 fish were counted at each of two barriers — on the Dungarvon and Northwest Miramichi, said Linnansaari.

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/salmon-spawning-low-returns-1.7374198