A tale of two fisheries — DFO seeking info in survey about salmon and striped bass
Interest group says striped bass are thriving at the expense of salmon
Members of the public have another few days to provide feedback to the federal fisheries department on recreational salmon and striped bass fishing in the Gulf of St. Lawrence region.
The gulf region covers the coast of eastern New Brunswick, the Northumberland Strait coast of Nova Scotia and Western Cape Breton Island, as well as Prince Edward Island.
Both fish species are native to the region, but have been faring very differently in recent years.
It's been catch-and-release only for Atlantic salmon for a number of years because of low returns.
Meanwhile, the population of striped bass in the area has rebounded from fewer than 5,000 spawners in the late 1990s to an estimated 500,000 in recent years.
And because striped bass eat salmon smolts, groups like the Atlantic Salmon Federation worry these larger numbers are keeping the salmon population down.
'A significant and increasing concern'
A spokesperson for the federation responded to an interview request but did not make anyone available on Monday.
"The impact of striped bass on Atlantic salmon and the ecosystem at large in the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence region has been a significant and increasing concern in recent years," the group's website states.
The website said DFO introduced a strategy to help the bass population rebound, "which consequently increased exponentially over the course of 25-30 years."
"Atlantic salmon smolt survival on the Miramichi and subsequent adult returns have declined significantly during this growth period of striped bass."
Last summer, federal Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier increased the striped bass quota for Indigenous harvesters in the region from 50,000 to 175,000 and announced a pilot to allow some lobster fishers to keep striped bass bycatch.
DFO says input gathered in a new survey will be considered in setting new management measures for 2025.
The department declined to do an interview with CBC about the survey, but on its website says it wants to hear from recreational anglers, Indigenous fishers and members of the general public.
The survey covers topics such as how many striped bass you can catch and what size they have to be.
The questionnaire was posted on the federal fisheries website Dec. 9. The department says it will remain online until Jan. 2.
With files from Jennifer Sweet