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Gros Morne rivers, brooks closed to salmon fishing

The move is effective immediately, according to a news release Thursday morning.

Comes on the heels of DFO's decision to allow catch and release only as of Sunday

A salmon angler on the Exploits River on Aug. 6. Starting Thursday morning, all salmon fishing in Gros Morne National Park is closed. (Marilyn Boone/CBC)

All rivers and brooks in Gros Morne National Park are closed to all fishing, effective immediately, Parks Canada said in a news release Thursday morning.

The sites included in the closure are Lomond River, East Branch Lomond River, Deer Arm Brook (Eastern Arm), Bakers Brook, Black Brook, Bottom Brook (St. Pau's Inlet) and Wallace Brook.

Parks Canada said in its release the closure is due to low numbers of returning salmon.

Last week, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans announced that all salmon rivers in Newfoundland would be catch and release only due to a significant decline in salmon returns.

That change came into effect one hour after sundown on Aug. 6.

A map of the areas closed to salmon fishing in Gros Morne National Park, as of Thursday morning. (Park Canada)