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Hello MSA Members and Supporters,
August was an important month for the Miramichi Salmon Association, particularly in our ongoing efforts to advocate for meaningful action on Atlantic salmon recovery.
On Thursday, August 13th, we welcomed Minister of Fisheries Joanne Thompson to the MSA hatchery in South Esk. The Minister was accompanied by senior representatives from DFO Gulf, and joined by myself, MSA Chair Gordon Mouland, and Past Chair Richard McGuigan.
We toured the hatchery and then had a productive discussion with the Minister on several issues that are important to MSA and the future of Atlantic salmon on the Miramichi.
A significant part of our discussion focused on our concerns with the most recent CSAS process undertaken to inform the development of a DFO stocking policy. We shared our concerns about the process and emphasized the importance of considering both the potential risks and the potential benefits of stocking as part of a broader salmon recovery strategy.
We also raised our concerns about the exploding striped bass population in the Miramichi and the lack of meaningful action by DFO to address this issue. The impact of striped bass predation is not simply a concern for individual salmon—it has implications for the broader recovery of our salmon populations and for the success of the conservation and recovery efforts being undertaken by organizations such as MSA.
We also made it clear that MSA wants to be part of the solution. We are prepared to participate in salmon recovery initiatives and undertake projects that align with the objectives of Canada’s Wild Atlantic Salmon Strategy (WASS). We believe organizations with a long history of working on the Miramichi can play an important role in delivering practical, place-based recovery initiatives.
The Minister’s visit provided an important opportunity for us to communicate MSA’s perspective directly, and we appreciate the time she and her staff spent with us.
The following week, I had another opportunity to advance these discussions while attending a fisheries conference in British Columbia. I was able to connect informally with senior DFO policy officials and raise MSA’s concerns regarding the approach being taken by the DFO Gulf Region. In particular, I highlighted what we see as a significant inconsistency between the willingness to undertake stocking and enhancement initiatives in Western Canada and the reluctance to pursue similar approaches in Atlantic Canada.
I have followed up with the individuals I spoke with and will continue to provide them with information that outlines MSA’s perspective and our concerns. These conversations are important, and we will continue to make sure that the Miramichi’s situation and the need for meaningful recovery action remain part of the national discussion.
Looking Ahead
As we move into the fall, MSA’s fundraising activities will begin to ramp up, with our Fredericton and Saint John fundraising dinners being two of the highlights of our fall calendar.
Information about both dinners can be found below. We are hoping for strong support and great turnouts at both events, and we hope to see many of you at one of these important MSA gatherings.
Thank you to our members, supporters, volunteers, directors, staff and partners for your continued commitment to the Miramichi and to Atlantic salmon conservation.
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