Time for Nature

Community stewardship helps protect salmon stocks

August 22, 2005

Terra Nova National Park of Canada

Parks Canada reopened the Northwest River to anglers in 2003.
© Parks Canada, Barrett & MacKay, 1985

For generations, angling for Atlantic salmon has been a tradition in Newfoundland and Labrador. But the number of salmon returning to spawn (Adobe PDF document) in Newfoundland's Northwest River, began to decline in the 1980s and continued to dwindle even after commercial salmon fishing was stopped in 1992. In 1996, in response to this decline, Parks Canada closed the recreational fishery in Terra Nova National Park of Canada – much to the dismay of local residents. However, this conservation strategy failed. A fish-counting fence installed in the park in 1995 showed that the number of returning salmon continued to drop. In 2001, park staff counted only 152 spawners.

Community members participate

The following year, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Parks Canada joined forces with local community residents, in hopes of turning the situation around. Together, they formed the Northwest River Atlantic Salmon Conservation Working Group. This advisory group, made up of local residents and government agencies, felt that there were a number of factors that may have been contributing to salmon decline. These ranged from illegal fishing, to pollution and predation.

Creating the right incentives

To encourage local citizens to take a more active stewardship role in the long-term prospects of Atlantic salmon, the advisory group created a population recovery and conservation plan. The plan included an incentive-based fishery beginning as early as summer 2003.

The number of salmon returning to spawn in Newfoundland’s Northwest River began to decline in the 1980s.
© Parks Canada, J. Steeves, 1989

The advisory group took a scientific-based approach to set short and long-term goals and milestones to recover the stock. It determined the minimum number of spawners needed to sustain the population. The group also calculated how many salmon could safely be harvested. With a goal of 550 spawners for 2003, the total quota for the recreational fishery in summer 2003 was a modest 50 fish.

More salmon spawning

Targets were achieved and Parks Canada reopened the Northwest River to anglers that summer. "It was great to see local residents' hard work pay off. We achieved a return of over 1200 salmon in 2003. The return exceeded everyone's expectations," said conservation biologist David Coté, one of Parks Canada's representatives on the advisory committee.

Since the advisory group has been established, there has been a dramatic rise in the number of salmon passing through the fish-counting fence. In 2004, 1472 salmon were counted, the highest return since the counting fence had been established. This increase was partly due to careful monitoring by so many supportive local anglers.

In 2004, 1472 salmon were counted, the highest return since the counting fence had been established.
© Parks Canada, M. Langdon, 2004

Early indications show this partnership approach has been a resounding success and has helped more than the salmon stocks. Local residents have a meaningful role in managing local salmon resources and this has improved relationships between community and government agencies. It has also renewed a sense of community pride in a beautiful and productive river system.

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