Impact of dams on dwindling Atlantic salmon to be studied

The Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation is providing more than $1 million to help re-establish and promote wild Atlantic salmon in Atlantic Canada and Quebec.

Executive director Stephen Chase says one project will see a group from the University of New Brunswick study how dams on the St John River affect the migration and survival of the salmon.

He says fish migrating to and from the ocean have to deal with three structures — Mactaquac, Beechwood and Tobique.

"These dams represent a huge challenge for wild Atlantic salmon," said Chase. "In fact, they could probably be attributed to the huge decline in salmon in the St. John River since the 50s and I have to say, the St. John River used to be one of the greatest salmon rivers in the world."

He says the dam turbines kill many juvenile fish on their way out.

The head pond environment also isn't ideal for salmon because they are used to faster-moving water, said Chase.

Other factors Chase believes are contributing to the declining numbers include climate change, increased predation and aquaculture.

Earlier this month, Fisheries Minister Gail Shea announced a ban on keeping salmon caught in New Brunswick rivers this season.

The new conservation measure comes on the heels of historic low numbers for salmon returns to the Miramichi river. Last year, the number of salmon returning to the Miramichi was about 12,000. In the 1990s, the number of fish returning to spawn was about 82,000.

The mandatory catch-and-release policy was supported by the Atlantic Salmon Federation, the New Brunswick Salmon Council, the Nova Scotia Salmon Association, and the Miramichi Salmon Association, which petitioned the minister for a one-year moratorium on the issuance of salmon tags in response to declining salmon numbers.