Fishing on Miramichi River restricted due to heat

Further restrictions on salmon fishing in parts of the Miramichi River have been imposed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada due to several days and nights of high temperatures.

A mandatory hook-and-release protocol had already been in place throughout the Maritimes for this season due to concern about low salmon numbers.

Under the new restrictions, anglers using an artificial fly can only fish from 6 a.m. until 11 a.m. daily in the Miramichi Recreational Fishing Area or Salmon Fishing Area 16.

In addition, 23 salmon holding pools remain closed to all angling methods for all species of fish until water conditions in the Miramichi system improve. Fisheries and Oceans Canada's website lists the affected areas.

"[The restrictions make] a lot of sense, especially as the forecast calls for more hot weather," said Mark Hambrook, the president of the Miramichi Salmon Association.

"DFO came out with this warm-water protocol to put some science around when the rivers would be restricted to angling purposes," he said, noting that his association was consulted.

The restrictions are necessary because of warmer water temperatures and low water levels, says Fisheries and Oceans.

Allen Curry, a biologist and science director at the Canadian Rivers Institute, said salmon are a cold water fish and the restrictions help the fish deal with warmer water temperatures.

It's one of the consequences of having a climate that's getting warmer.- Allen Curry, Canadian Rivers Institute

"It's one of the consequences of having a climate that's getting warmer," said Curry.

Curry said when air temperatures begin to rise that pushes up the temperature in the rivers as well.

"So by the middle of the summer, when we get into these heat waves, the rivers warm up and our cold water fish, like the salmon, are struggling a bit to find places to find refuge from the warming temperature," he said.

Water temperatures are colder in the morning, so that's why fishing is allowed at that time, said Curry.

"It's a reasonable measure and one that you want to have in there as precaution to make sure that the fish are not being stressed out. Any stress at these high temperatures can be fatal for these fish."

Curry said as there is a "fairly steady trend" of the rivers warming, he would expect that closing rivers to angling due to warm water temperatures is likely to increase over time as well.

Evelock Gilks, the manager of the Miramichi Salmon Club, says low water levels are causing problems on the river.

"We're in pretty bad condition," said Gilks.

"When we can't run those canoes up and down the river 'cause those gravel bars are so low we have a very hard time and we're going to move some of our canoes down river."

Fisheries and Oceans did not have anyone available to to speak about the closures, but said they would remain in place until conditions improve.

Closures of this type have been put in place during fishing season on the Miramichi from 2010 through 2013, said the department.