Your monthly resource for MSA conservation updates, Miramichi Watershed Information, upcoming MSA Events and much much more. |
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A Message from the MSA President -
Dr. Robyn McCallum
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April 2022 Update
We are starting to see ice movement on the Miramichi River, and spring fishing will soon be upon us!
On March 22, we gathered in Fredericton to celebrate Mr. Bud Bird’s 90th birthday!! Thank you to all the folks who came out to help us celebrate this special milestone, for a gentleman who has made such a difference to Atlantic Salmon conservation and to our organization.
The Brian Moore Legacy Fund student will soon be announced. 2022 marks the first year this award will be distributed, and we are excited for the impact this student will make to conservation. Thank you to all of the supporters of the Brian Moore Legacy Fund for making this happen, and for choosing such a touching way to honour Brian. The MSA will also soon welcome summer students back.
Our joint MSA/Miramichi Watershed Management Committee Science Day will be held on Friday, May 6th, at the Fredericton Inn and via Zoom. We have a great lineup of speakers planned for this event, and we hope you can join us! More details will follow shortly. We also thank Chaleur Forest Products for their generous sponsorship of lunch for this event.
The MSA AGM is scheduled for Saturday, May 7th at the Fredericton Inn and via Zoom. Stay tuned for more details as the meeting date approaches. We hope to see a great turnout to this meeting.
MSA staff continue to work on our 2021 annual report which will be released before the AGM. Working on this document is an opportunity to reflect on the progress we made, collectively, in 2021, and look to future opportunities this year.
MSA continues to participate in the smallmouth bass eradication working group. Community meetings in Upper Miramichi, Doaktown, Blackville, and Miramichi recently wrapped up, and communities continue to demonstrate their support for this project. An update on these meetings is available here: https://www.miramichismallmouth.com/_files/ugd/ea306b_e082a7443b624b03bb07a68642a61b38.pdfThe working group continues to work on key aspects including First Nation engagement, planning, and funding.
The MSA will be attending the NB Sportsmen’s Show in Moncton on April 8-10. Stop by our booth to learn more about our organization and chat with MSA staff.
MSA committee members continue to volunteer their time and skills to make our organization run smoothly- thank you to our directors and volunteers for all the work they contribute to the MSA.
Robyn
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Upcoming Online Auction Preview |
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Keep you eyes open for the MSA Spring Online Auction which will be launching on April 25th and running until May 8th. The auction will be be jam packed with interesting items ranging from fishing trips, fishing equipment, artwork and some practical items like delicious food and household décor. A quick preview of some items are highlighted below.
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Bud's Birthday Celebration |
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In honour of J.W. Bud Bird's 90th birthday, the Miramichi Salmon Association and the Atlantic Salmon Federation hosted a birthday lunch reception for Mr. Bird on March 22nd at the Fredericton Inn. The reception was a huge success with well over 100 people in attendance - including the Premier of New Brunswick the Hon. Blaine Higgs (pictured below with Bud). The MSA would like to thank everyone who joined the MSA and ASF in celebrating Bud's birthday - Bud was truly touched and honoured that the MSA and ASF chose to recognize his significant contribution to salmon conservation, both in New Brunswick, and internationally, on his 90th birthday. Below are a few pictures from the reception.
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Bud receiving a Provincial birthday card from the Hon. Blaine Higgs. |
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MSA Chair, Debbie Norton and the Premier's Office Chief of Staff, Louis Legere |
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Mr. Bird with Chief Roger Augustine |
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'Spring into the Season'
Rocky Bend Raffle
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Check out the MSA's latest raffle for a fishing trip to Rocky Bend!
All inclusive for up to 6 rods, meals, guide, accommodations
July 31st- August 2nd.
Ticket available by clicking the link below.
Tickets are $50 each. Draw is April 30th
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Icebreaker Barbeque - Save the Date! |
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Save the date in your 2022 MSA Calendar! The annual MSA Icebreaker dinner, typically held in May each spring, will be held on June 4th this year. To mix it up a little, this year we have decided to change the format to an outdoor BBQ at the "Dome" across from the Central NB Woodsman Museum in Boiestown from 4pm until 7pm.
This year, the Icebreaker Dinner Committee will recognize the enormous contribution the Wade family and Wade’s Fishing Lodge made to the Miramichi outfitting industry. For more than 50 years, the Wade family name was synonymous with the Miramichi and salmon fishing. We look forward to celebrating the Wade’s rich Miramichi history together!
The evening will feature a live auction, a silent auction, and some fun draws. We will also have musical entertainment throughout the evening. Tickets will be available soon so please check the MSA website in the coming days to purchase tickets.
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If you haven't had a chance to check out the Miramichi's new online fishing portal called 'FishPal' we encourage you to have a look! As we move into the fishing season, FishPal will be updated with all kinds of useful information about fishing in the Miramichi including latest catches, river water levels and temperatures and available water. We have had a number of fishing lodges signed up to be a part of FishPal but are currently looking for more water and salmon pools to list. If you have rod days that you with to make available to the public for a daily fee please contact butch@miramichisalmon.ca
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The MWMC and the MSA are pleased to announce the return of our annual Science Day which will be held this year on May 6th at the Fredericton Inn beginning at 10am. We have a number of speakers (8) lined up who will be presenting on a variety of topics related to salmon conservation. The theme for this year's science day is Salmon Conservation in a Changing Climate. The MSA would like to thank Chaleur Forest Products who have agreed to sponsor lunch and coffee for this event. To attend science day we ask that you please register by clicking the link below.
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2022 MSA/AV Group Photo Contest |
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Attention shutterbugs! On April 15th, the MSA will be launching our annual photo contest sponsored by AV Group. We look forward to receiving entries for this contest which runs until the end of fishing season on October 15th.
- 1st place overall - $250
- 2nd place -$150
- 3rd place - $75
- Honorable Mention - $25
*Please note that this contest is open to amateur photographers only
For detailed information on rules and to submit photos please click the link below.
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Question Corner with Rick Cunjak |
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Do you have a question about Atlantic salmon, fish biology, river science or ecosystem management that you would like answered? Have you ever wondered what salmon do in the winter, under the ice or what frazil and anchor ice is and how is it different from surface ice? Don't be shy, send in your questions!
Our question this month came from Alex B. who asked: If salmon don't eat while in fresh water, how is it that they can survive an entire winter with no food? It sure seems like they are hungry in the spring! Do spring salmon feed in fresh water?
Rick's Answer - This question highlights yet another fascinating aspect of the life history of the Atlantic salmon. Indeed, they do not feed upon entering freshwater in the summer/fall, and continue fasting the entire winter until they re-enter tidal water in the spring. They are able to manage this long period of fasting by drawing upon their substantial energy reserves (mainly fat) which they accumulated while feeding at sea. Another reason that they can accomplish this feat is because they are poikilotherms (cold-blooded). That is, their metabolism is directly linked to the temperature of their environment. After spawning, and until they start moving downriver in the spring, the water temperature in New Brunswick salmon rivers is generally between 0oC and 5oC – quite cold. Hence, their metabolism over winter is significantly reduced and this means less drain on their energy reserves to meet metabolic demands. So, they can survive many months without feeding. Probably one of the reasons that kelts in northern rivers like the Miramichi can survive the winter without feeding is the cold winter temperatures. In more southerly latitudes or where winter temperatures are relatively mild, such as in Britain, France and Spain, repeat spawners are rare, and kelts are subject to significantly greater metabolic demands than would occur in colder rivers. These kelts are also subject to other stressors such as post-spawning fungal infections. Collectively, such conditions contribute to very low survival over winter.
With ice-out in spring, water temperatures start to increase and many kelts start moving downriver. The increasing temperatures result in increased metabolic activity, increased appetite, and the resumption of feeding. Coincidentally, in many of our rivers, smelt start entering freshwater to spawn. This is typically the first, and the preferred, food of adult Atlantic salmon since entering freshwater the previous summer. In the 1990’s, we studied the behaviour of radio-tagged kelts following spawning and throughout the winter and spring. During winter, most of the kelts moved to areas of reduced current where energy demands would be low. After ice-out, they continued moving to the estuary but some actually started moving back upriver towards the head of tide. These upriver movements took place at the same time as smelt spawning migrations so we suspect that the salmon were chasing smelts. After about a week, they resumed their seaward migration. It should be noted that not all kelts are able to successfully switch from winter fasting to spring feeding; some salmon kelts die in late winter and spring. Years ago, Mark Hambrook was conducting experiments with kelt reconditioning in the hatchery– trying to improve their winter survival by introducing food to them. For many of the salmon, the experiment worked and they successfully resumed feeding and improved in body condition. However, some of them were unable to take feed, presumably because their digestive system had atrophied over time such that they were unable to survive as temperatures (and metabolic demands) increased. For those of us fishing salmon this spring, it is worth considering the remarkable changes that salmon kelts undergo over winter and the severe demands they have overcome to survive before heading back to sea.
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Dr. Richard Cunjak is a retired professor at University of New Brunswick where he held a joint appointment in the Department of Biology and the Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Management. Rick has more than 35 years experience working on the behavioural ecology of riverine fishes. To date, he has published over 140 scientific papers, reports and book chapters in three languages. |
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Upcoming MSA Events
- MWMC/MSA Science Day ---- May 6th at the Fredericton Inn
- MSA Annual General Meeting ---- May 7th at the Fredericton Inn
- MSA Icebreaker Dinner ---- June 4th in Boiestown
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Still not a member of the Miramichi Salmon Association?
Membership in the MSA is the perfect way to express your passion and support for the Miramichi River, for the Atlantic salmon who make it their home, and for the vital work being done by the MSA to protect and conserve both for today and tomorrow!
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