Your monthly resource for MSA conservation updates, Miramichi Watershed Information, upcoming MSA Events and much more.

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Vol. 55 February 2023

Hi everyone,

I hope many of you are planning to attend the MSA US Dinner in person or virtually on February 4^th at the Portland Country Club. I encourage you to read through this newsletter to find out more details on how to register and support this event. Thank you to the MSA US event committee for all the work they put into this initiative.

The development committee has been hard at work planning special events for the MSA’s 70^th anniversary, and the 150^th anniversary of the hatchery. Some of those events and details are included in this newsletter, and more will be released shortly. Please join us when you can to mark these special milestones. Other MSA committees are also involved in various projects, including how we share our 70-year story, how we support educational initiatives, and more.

Our team is busy planning for this season’s field activities. We will once again collaborate with a number of groups for projects. For example, the MSA conducts the annual smolt estimate with support from the Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation, and several other groups collaborate to gather smolt data, including the Atlantic Salmon Federation, Anqotum Resource Management, the University of New Brunswick, and DFO. Stay tuned as more results and reports from the 2022 field season are released this winter and spring. We are definitely stronger as a salmon conservation community when we work together.

The Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation frequently holds webinars from folks working on salmon conservation. I encourage you to visit this link (https://www.salmonconservation.ca/webinar-e/) to learn more about upcoming webinars or watch past events.

The strategic planning committee and interested directors have been working on a new Vision Document. An updated draft will be presented at the next board meeting for review and discussion. Launching this new document is well-timed with the 70^th anniversary of our organization and as we make plans for the future.

Thank you for your continued support,

Robyn

At 5:30 PM EST on February 4th, 2023 guests, both virtual and in person, will gather at the Portland Country Club in Falmouth Maine to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Miramichi Salmon Association. This fun filled event will include a cocktail hour with hearty hors d’oeuvres, silent auction, buffet dinner and the great company of passionate Atlantic salmon enthusiasts. The virtual attendees will receive a limited-edition, engraved, MSA 70^th Anniversary Richard Wheatley Fly Box and an REC Recoiler .  PLEASE NOTE: In person tickets are sold out.

Only virtual tickets are still available for this event



Individual tickets - virtual attendance only - $300 USD per person.

Tickets can be purchased by clicking the link below.

MSA US AUCTION

Running until February 9th at 9pm (EST), the MSA US is currently hosting an online auction that contains a bunch of great items including a number of fly collections by excellent tiers, fishing trips to some of the Miramichi’s finest locations, artwork of various types including maps, photos, prints, original paintings, shadow boxes, casting instruction with experts, private fishing pools for lease, clothing, gift cards to Beans and Orvis, fly fishing equipment from Sci Anglers and Hardy… even an incredible Woodmaster 12.5” planer with free shipping – more than 50 lots in all.  

MSA US RAFFLES

Also, back by popular demand there are 4 raffles that include the Sage rod of your choice, any Rio fly lane made, a pair of Redington zip front waders and an original Cains River painting by Luther Hall. 



You can check out all these items and more by clicking the link below.

Attention NB Anglers: If you are interested in applying to fish any of New Brunswick's Crown Reserve stretches please be advised that the application period this year runs from February 6th until March 3rd. The payment period is from March 20 to April 14th and the unsuccessful applicant booking period is from May 8 to May 21st.

Crown reserve fishing offers New Brunswickers some excellent fishing opportunities and is open only to residents of New Brunswick. There are currently 20 Regular Crown Reserves in the Miramichi and Restigouche River drainages. Reserves (stretches) are assigned for 48-hour periods.

To apply to the Regular Crown Reserve draw submit your application online by clicking the link below. You may also apply by mailing a paper copy of the application form and payment to the Fish and Wildlife office or by contacting any local Department office. Successful party chiefs will be notified by mail or e-mail.

Winter has finally come to Miramichi after a very mild November and December. Site maintenance with plowing and shoveling has our staff keeping busy, on top of routine fish care at the MSCC.

Eggs for our traditional wild stocking program and experimental Dungarvon stocking program are incubating on-site, along with eggs from the Nepisiguit River through Pabineau First Nations - a new collaboration in 2022-2023. Some of these eggs are in the "eyed" stage, which means they can be handled without causing harm, and our estimates can be done for each group soon. UNB is also involved with student projects involving the Dungarvon eggs.

We have fish in our Grow Out Building from 2020, 2021, and 2022 collection year classes now and they are all doing well. The 2022 group was moved up in early January as they were getting crowded in our Quarantine Building. Their body condition was the best we have seen leaving our QRT Building as we've worked hard to improve our treatment techniques and reduce densities in each tank. Routine work with feeding, treatments, and cleaning occurs daily and observations on fish behaviour are our best defense at keeping them healthy while they are in our care.

Eggs incubating

Outside the MSA hatchery in January,

Eggs starting to "eye"

 2023 Field Program Summary

Smolt Estimate: Spring will be here before we know it on the Miramichi, and we have already started preparing for our annual smolt estimates. To improve accuracy, the MSA will again be placing two smolt wheels on the Northwest Miramichi River. The cables and gear needed are ready to go, and smolt wheel maintenance is underway. We aim to have the wheels in the river at the start of May, depending on the ice movement.

Smolt Tracking: Once again, the MSA has partnered with the Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) for our annual smolt tracking project. The MSA and the ASF will begin tagging smolts on the Miramichi River using Vemco acoustic transmitters in the spring. ASF will be placing transmitters in smolts from the Northwest Miramichi and the main Southwest Miramichi at Rocky Brook. By tracking the movement of smolt out of the river, estuary, and into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, the survival percentage of smolts exiting the river can be determined, and any areas of high mortality potentially located.

Smolt Collection: The MSA is working on a long-term fry stocking research program in collaboration with Dr. Tommi Linnansaari at UNB. This program is designed to bolster the salmon population and investigate the best method to stock fry. Updates to come!

Fry Stocking: Fry stocking will commence in June of 2023 and will be a busy season focusing on locations along the Southwest Miramichi River (Cains, Juniper, and Dungarvon areas).

Electrofishing: The MSA conducts an electrofishing program each year to assess the distribution of juvenile Atlantic salmon in the headwater areas of the Miramichi River watershed. Our 2023 Juvenile Atlantic Salmon Assessment on the Miramichi River will continue as usual in the latter part of summer.

Cold Water Pool Restoration: This year, the North Shore Micmac District Council (NSMDC), in conjunction with the MSA and other partners, will be conducting four Miramichi river cold-water pool restoration projects. The areas scheduled for restoration in 2023 are Dyer Brook, Sutter’s Brook, McLean Brook, and Casey’s Spring. Our MSA team is also planning to follow up on past cold water pool restoration sites by performing snorkeling surveys, recording cold water temperature data, and assessing sites for possible clearing of debris obstructing water flow. This is in addition to the innovative cold water restoration planned with Dr. Antoin O’Sullivan.

Broodstock Collection: Broodstock, or adult spawning salmon, are collected from the river by the MSA and its members for spawning at the Miramichi Salmon Conservation Centre. The eggs are incubated at the MSCC overwinter and released back to the rivers in June as first feeding fry, strategically placed where juvenile densities are low. Salmon broodstock collection is planned for this coming fall on the Southwest Miramichi River.

Beaver Dams Management: Our beaver dam management program is planned for the fall of 2023. We plan to have potential sites assessed early and ready for the project to start during critical spawning times. If you are aware of any beaver dams preventing fish passage, please reach out with any information you may have. If you’re interested in volunteering for this program, let us know!

Beaver Dam Flow Device: Our beaver dam flow device program will continue for a third season. Planning is currently taking place on where the new device will be located. Previously installed devices are located at Doak Brook and Betts Mills Brook.

Building on the popularity and success of our previous "Spring into the Season" online auction and raffle, the MSA has decided to host another online auction and raffle this coming spring. Our spring auctions have been reaching participants from as far away as California and British Columbia and are a great way to gear up for the upcoming fishing season.

This year's auction and raffle will be launching in late March or early April and will be packed with all the items you need for the upcoming fishing season. Look for a link to our auction site in the coming weeks through our social media channels, our website, and the Leaper.

Are you looking for an opportunity to build your resume and gain experience over the summer? The Miramichi Salmon Association is seeking enthusiastic and professional students to hire for the 2023 summer field season!

Successful applicants will be working closely with the biologist and hatchery staff to conduct multiple field programs and fisheries conservation practices. This is an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the biological or environmental sciences.

For more details about this job listing and how to apply, please click the link below. Application deadline is February 24th, 2023.

• MSA US 70th Anniversary Winter Event -

February 4th - Portland Country Club - Portland, Maine.

• MSA Board of Directors Meeting -

February 17th - Fredericton Inn - Bi-Centennial Ballroom

• MSA Outfitters Curling Bonspiel -

March 4th - Doaktown, NB

• MSA "Spring into the Season" Online Auction and Raffle -

Late March/Early April 2023 - Online

• MWMC/MSA Science Day -

April 18 - Fredericton Inn - Bi-Centennial Ballroom

• "70 on 70" - Celebrating Mark Hambrook's 70th Birthday and Retirement and the 70th Anniversary of MSA

April 29th - Rodd Inn - Miramichi - Featuring Comedian Jimmy McKinley

• MSA Annual General Meeting -

June 3rd - Upper Miramichi Rural Community Centre - Boiestown

• Icebreaker Dinner and Auction -

June 3rd - NB Woodsman Museum - Boiestown

Miramichi Salmon Association

485 Route 420, South Esk, NB

E1V 4L9

506-622-4000| www.miramichisalmon.ca