Your monthly resource for MSA conservation updates, Miramichi Watershed Information, upcoming MSA Events and much much more. |
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A Note from MSA President -
Dr. Robyn McCallum
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Hi everyone,
I’m settling into my position here at MSA. It’s been wonderful to chat with many of you, and I look forward to meeting more of our members.
There’s lots on the go here at MSA. To keep you in the loop:
Planning for field research is well underway, including projects on smolt estimates and tracking, electrofishing, cold water pools, and beaver dam removal. Lyndsay Jay-Keating, a summer student since 2016, will be joining us as MSA Biologist March 1. Lyndsay has a Bachelor of Science degree and a great background in salmon conservation with MSA. Lyndsay will be with us until August and we are looking forward to welcoming her in this capacity.
I’d like to welcome Mr. Brad Burns as our MSA (U.S.) president and thank Andy Dumaine for his service in this role. Brad is also spearheading our MSA US Atlantic Salmon Celebration, and if you haven’t registered for this event, visit our website for more details.
Keep an eye on your mailbox later this month as we send out our membership drive materials. Renewing your membership strengthens our organization and our work for the Miramichi River and Atlantic salmon conservation. Thank you for supporting MSA.
February 6 is our next board meeting. With current COVID-19 restrictions, we expect this meeting to be completely virtual via Zoom. Directors will receive a meeting package and login details. We look forward to your participation.
Robyn
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MSA US President - Brad Burns |
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Recently I took over as president of the US Chapter of the MSA from Andy Dumaine who we all need to thank for his years of service. Andy’s strength is accounting and operations, and I’m depending on some support from him on those fronts. My business career was focused on sales and marketing. In MSA terms that is membership, fundraising, and promotion of recreational angling opportunities for our favorite fish, the Atlantic salmon.
I have long believed that the MSA is the one organization that is focused on the Miramichi River system where many, perhaps most of us do the bulk of our salmon fishing, and where many of us have invested in camps of our own. I listened to Mark Hambrook’s views on management and salmon science for the last 20 years, and frankly I never heard anything that I disagreed with. If DFO had done everything that he tried to get them to do I’m confident that we would be in a much better place than we are now. What we have to do now is to build on Mark’s and the MSA’s many years of efforts and take our custodianship and advocacy for the river to a new level. Areas where we have been stymied in the past just show us where we now need to focus our efforts. I have some ideas which you will see and hear more about later, and so do other new faces at the MSA.
We have a great auction beginning on Feb. 14 and ending on Feb. 28 with merchandise, trips, and artwork. I hope that you will join me in some generous bidding. We also have Salmon Celebration 2021 coming up on Feb 20th. This will be two plus hours of presentations by some of the top names in Atlantic salmon fishing from both the Canadian and U.S. sides of border. The Celebration is free for all to view, though we are hoping for significant donations. The winner of a really great Luther Hall painting called Goose Island Salmon will be drawn from a list of everyone who donates $50 or more to view the event. Look to the MSA website for all the details on these programs.
Last, with the Covid vaccine beginning to take effect we are looking for the borders to open in time for a fabulous salmon season. Everyone with business or employment linked to the fishery needs and deserves it. The run in 2020 was not measured, but by all accounts of experts that I know and trust it was the best since 2011. Let’s hope that it is the start of a turnaround in the prospects for Miramichi salmon.
Brad Burns
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MSA Photo Contest Winners |
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After careful consideration, our judges reached a decision on the winner(s) of the 2020 MSA photo contest. The MSA would like to thank everyone who participated in the contest, we had a lot of great photos sent to us. We have chosen a winner for each of the 4 categories and the results are listed below. Congratulations to the winners and thank you all for participating! Keep the photos coming in 2021!
We would like to extend a sincere thank you to
Bass Pro Shops for sponsoring this annual MSA contest.
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Miramichi People
Iris Ciecko - 1st place
Jeff Morris - 2nd place
Carl Graybill - 3rd place
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Miramichi Kids
Jeff Morris - 1st place
Jeff Morris - 2nd place
Iris Ciecko - 3rd Place
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Miramichi Scene
Jeff Morris - 1st place
Nick Witters - 2nd Place
Renate Bullock - 3rd place
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Angling
Daniel Porter - 1st place
Grant Hendry - 2nd place
Daniel Porter - 3rd place
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1st Place in the 'People' category by Iris Ciecko |
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1st Place in the "Angling" category by Daniel Porter
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1st Place in the 'kids' category by Jeff Morris |
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1st Place in the 'Scene" Category by Jeff Morris |
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MSA Welcomes Vanessa McLaughlin |
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The Miramichi Salmon Association is pleased to welcome the newest member of our staff, Vanessa McLaughlin. Vanessa is from Sunny Corner, where she continues to reside with her family, and her community is a huge part of her identity. Her family has a legacy of salmon guiding and managing fishing lodges, and this heritage has given her a special connection to the Miramichi River. During her spare time, Vanessa enjoys watching movies and drawing. She values the time she gets to spend with her husband and dog, as well as weekends at family gatherings and participating in a weekly online trivia night with friends.
After studying cognitive science at her alma mater, Mount Allison University, she decided to pursue a career in the administrative field. She had several years of experience as an administrative assistant. We look forward to having her continue as part of the Miramichi Salmon Association’s professional team.
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Preview: Upcoming MSA US Auction
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As part of the upcoming MSA US Atlantic Salmon Celebration 2021, MSA President Brad Burns will be hosting an online auction that is absolutely chock-o-block full of fantastic items ranging from excellent fishing trips, works of art, flies, and much more! The auction officially launches on February 14th @ 12pm and runs until February 28th @ 5pm. Follow the link below to view the entire catalog.
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25 Fall Flies In Wheatley Box by Gary Tanner |
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Three days of fishing for up to four anglers on excellent pools in Blackville. |
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Duck Hunting on the Great Marsh, Massachusetts North Shore Fall 2021 |
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In these challenging times of COVID 19 we all have to do our part and follow health guidelines - and these days that includes wearing a face mask. If we have to wear one, why not support the MSA and salmon conservation efforts at the same time? To that end, we have ordered MSA branded face masks. The mask are for sale for $10 a each and can be purchased by clicking the link below. |
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MSA US to Host Livestream |
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On February 20th, 2021 the MSA US will be hosting a FREE LIVESTREAM event in celebration of Atlantic Salmon. Featured guests will include: April Vokey, Topher Brown, Deidre Green, Luther Hall, John Swan, Brad Burns, and host, Gary Tanner.
The evening will also feature:
- A short history of salmon fishing on the Miramichi by Morris Green
- Histories of Black Brook Salmon Club and Doctor's Island Salmon Club by Rip Cunningham and Pat Boland
- Remembering Wades Fishing Lodge by the Wade brothers and Emery Brophy
- A message from MSA President Robyn McCallum
- Excerpts from a historical film “Memories of the Miramichi” with footage of Lee and Joan Wulff, Ted Williams and Charles DeFeo will also be shown.
To register for the Livestream please click the link below.
When you register for the livestream and make a donation of $50 or more, your name will automatically be entered into a draw for a Luther Hall painting titled "Goose Island Salmon" (shown below - 10"x12")
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Question Corner - with Dr. Rick Cunjak
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Thank you to everyone who sent in questions for Rick. We chose the following 2 questions to answer this month. Tony Henderson asked:
- The Nashwaaksis stream has smolt and fry in it , yet I have never seen an adult salmon up stream. Could they (smolt) migrate up from other branches?
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Our second question comes from Alex Hannan. Alex asked:
- When leaving the river in the spring, do salmon (kelt) swim down river with the current (head facing down river) or do they float or drift down (tail facing down river) ?
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If you have, please email your question by clicking the button below and Dr. Rick Cunjak will provide an answer to your question in the Leaper the following month. Please email you question by clicking the link below: |
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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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Looking to expand your wardrobe with a cool MSA branded sweatshirt or hoodie? Check out our line of MSA branded clothing by clicking the link below. We have a variety of products available including t-shirts, jackets, sweatshirts and more. Shipping is available at standard Canada Post rates. Next order is on February 28th |
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Upcoming MSA Events
- MSA Board of Directors meeting February 6th @ 10am via Zoom
- MSA-USA Free Livestream event----Saturday February 20th at 7PM Eastern Standard Time (register above)
- MSA-USA Online Fundraising Auction ---February 14th to February 28th 2021
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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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