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Your monthly resource for MSA conservation updates, Miramichi Watershed Information, upcoming MSA Events and much much more.
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Vol. 12 Late Summer Edition 2017
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2017 Miramichi Salmon Run
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by MSA President Mark Hambrook
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We experienced another hot and dry summer on the Miramichi in 2017 with very low water levels. Salmon numbers at the DFO index traps for the past week are practically zero each day and this is normal for the end of August. What isn't so normal is that salmon continued to enter the river in early August when water temperatures were very warm. Historically, the early run of salmon enter the river in late May and it generally slows dramatically in late July when it gets warm and the water levels are low. The run picks up again in September when the temperature begins to cool and the fall run ends by the first of November. Thirty years ago, the early run was much less than the fall run, with the fall run making up 75% of the total run. About 15 years ago the ratio was 50/50 early/late. In the past 5 to 10 years, the fall run makes up only 25% of the total run. If we had a cold spell in August or a good rain, then some of the fall fish would come in at that time. (Photo: MSA President Mark Hambrook measures and weighs adult salmon in South Esk, NB)
But why are they coming in when the water is so warm in the river and it is so much cooler in the salt water?
Although we don't know the answer, the speculation is that they are being driven in by the large numbers of grey seals in Miramichi Bay. Salmon are observed every year in the DFO index traps with large gashes on them that is assumed to be from seals. If the seals harass the salmon enough, then perhaps their survival instincts drive them to tolerate the warmer river water and ascend the river to escape the seals.
The grey seal population has grown in the Gulf of St. Lawrence 30 fold to 125,000 animals and the Canadian Senate has recommended a cull of 70,000 grey seals in the Gulf. That hasn't happened and a cull will probably never occur considering today's societal norms. However, there is interest in our First Nation communities to harvest grey seals to use the whole animal for a variety of purposes - meat, blubber for Omega-3 oil and the fur for multiple uses. This approach is the only option that makes sense,
but will the grey seal population ever be reduced to a more sustainable level by aboriginal hunting?
Lets hope that our First Nation communities can make a success of this endeavor, to have a viable, sustainable seal harvesting industry. To even cap the growth of the seal population would be a tremendous step forward as the pressure on salmon stocks appears to be growing every day and we don't need any more growth in the grey seal population.
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MSA's 12th Annual Salmon Classic Great Success
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The MSA's annual fishing event was held from July 9th-12th this year and included over 20 participants from the Maritimes and eastern United States as well as over 15 volunteer guides who helped make the event a great success.
This year's 4 day event kicked off Sunday evening with a whole lobster or chicken dinner followed by small and fun Silent Auction, held at the Miramichi Kinsmen Center. The evening was opened to local MSA supporters and a big thank you goes out to Brian Matheson of Mindful of Food and his excellent servers, as well as our very own Stephen Tonning who once again this year cut and prepped everyone’s lobster! Lunches for the 3 days were provided by Upper Oxbox Outdoor Adventures, the Renous Rec. Center, and finished off as always with a BBQ and facilities tour at the MSA's hatchery in South Esk. The participants were also treated to a spey casting demonstration by Walt Geryk, AKA the Spey Doctor, after lunch at Upper Oxbow Adventures.
Thank you to all the participants and volunteers for another successful summer event here on the Miramichi Watershed. (Photo: MSA Participant Marc Degautmont, fishing the NW Miramichi)
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MSA Partners with NBSC for Fish Friends
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With a new school year underway the MSA would like to remind you of the Fish Friends program available to all schools in the province. Last year over the course of three weeks, near the end of the school year, students from local elementary schools said goodbye to some new friends. Several schools participated in the New Brunswick Salmon Council (NBSC) program, “Fish Friends”. Fish Friends is an education and conservation program that provides elementary aged students with a 10-12 week, hands on experience promoting salmon conservation and environmental education. NBSC provides participating classrooms with all the hardware and a curriculum guide full of lots of hands-on activities for the classes to learn about salmon conservation and raising wild fish. Locally, the Miramichi Salmon Association provides eggs for each tank.
In early March, NSPC volunteers assist the teachers with setting up their tanks and delivering the eggs. Each volunteer does a classroom session when the eggs are delivered in mid to late April and is available as a resource throughout the program. Students are responsible for maintaining the tanks and feeding the fry as they grow.
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The big day arrives in early June. Students and their fish are bussed to the same watershed that the eggs were obtained from. Teachers distribute the fry to the students and, after a short ‘how to’ chat, the children release their fish into their new homes. After the release, students are offered a BBQ lunch and tour of the facility that their fish came from, provided by MSA.
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Spotlight on Betty Fitzpatrick: Avid fisher and motorcyclist
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Anyone who has had the wonderful pleasure of meeting Betty Fitzpatrick, will easily know what I mean when I say that there a few other individuals that have such a zest for life. July of this year marked Betty’s 90th Birthday believe it or not and after the invite came and a lot of shock travelled around the MSA and then maybe even some self reflection and amazement at this women’s accomplishments I decided the best idea was to just sit down with Betty to find out the secret to staying so young.
Born in the Chatham Area of Miramichi Betty grew up hunting and fishing with her father, it was their way of life and as an only child she would accompany him on any hunting or fishing trip she could. (Photo: Betty Fitzpatrick ready for an afternoon fish)
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MSA Cold Water Pool Restoration
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“Friends of Cold-Water”
Thanks to the financial support generated through this year’s
‘Friends-of Cold-Water’ campaign, the MSA was able to complete its 7
th cold-water refuge enhancement project, which is located at the confluence of Salmon Brook and the Cains River. In addition, the MSA has also helped to facilitate an 8
th cold-water project located at Hudson Brook on the SW Miramichi. Other recently completed MSA cold-water refuge projects include Donnelly Brook, Indiantown Brook and Doak Brook on the SW Miramichi, Otter Brook and Parks Brook on the LSW Miramichi and Pats Brook on the NW Miramichi (click here for a description of projects).
The MSA’s
‘Friends of Cold-Water’ campaign is a priority ‘in-river’ conservation effort focused on helping our wild Atlantic salmon tolerate and survive the ever-increasing number of stressful and life-threatening warm water events, caused largely by our changing climate. Funds raised through this campaign are used to help finance the restoration and/or enhancement of critically important cold-water refuge habitat that both adult and juvenile fish so desperately need to escape and endure the worst of the summer’s heat.
If you’d like to be a part of this critically important cold-water habitat initiative, please join and support the MSA’s annual “
Friends-of-Cold-Water
” campaign
(click here to read campaign brochure)
.
To make a
tax-deductible donation to this campaign, just click below
or call 1-506-622-4000.
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by MSA Biologist Kesley McGee
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The beginning of July saw the end of our stocking season as the last of our first feeding salmon fry were delivered to satellite rearing tanks at the Miramichi Headwaters Salmon Federation and JD Irving Ltd in Juniper, where they will be held until their release in the fall.
Parks Brook on the Little Southwest Miramichi river has been revisited in order to perform a follow up evaluation, post-construction as part of our cold-water refuge program. Pre-construction temperature profiles were also conducted in Salmon Brook on the Cains river, where we to removed sediment and increase flow conveyance, and in Hudson Brook on the Main Southwest river, where rock tows and deflectors were installed to narrow the brook into a more natural channel. These two cold-water refuge sites will be revisited, post-construction, to evaluate the results of each project. (Photo: MSA Staff measuring juvenile fish for the electrofishing program)
As part of our smolt tracking partnership program with ASF data collected this past year is currently being analysed and the results will be available later this year. Beaver dams have been removed from Doak Brook and it will continue to be monitored for activity. Our electrofishing program is underway with focus on areas upstream of beaver dams that were removed in the 2016 field season and to also follow up on our stocking sites from the spring of 2016 and 2017.
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Fredericton Conservation Dinner to Honour Kenmore Fishing Club
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Come out and join your fellow MSA supporters as we honour the Kenmore Fishing Club at the 22
nd Annual MSA Fredericton Dinner, being held Thursday, September 21
st at the Fredericton Inn. This well desired recognition is being awarded in appreciated for the many years of generous support both the Club and its individual members have given to the cause of salmon conservation. Reserve your ticket(s) today by e-mailing
kate@miramichisalmon.ca or calling the MSA at 506-622-4000. (Photo – packed room at 2016 Fredericton Dinner)
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Jake Allen's Program 34 Inc.
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This year the MSA was one of the lucky organizations that benefited from Jake Allen's Program 34 Inc. Golf Tournament held earlier this summer. Jake is an avid fisherman who not only chose the MSA as one of this years beneficiaries but he also donates to a number of the MSA's fundraising dinners. As an example, this years Fredericton Dinner will again include an opportunity for an adult and youth to fish with Jake for a full morning, followed by a private lunch with the superstar. The MSA would like to thank Jake and Program 34 for the generous donations and wish him luck in the coming year! (Photo: Jake Allen presents $5000 check to MSA Director of Development & Communications Stephen Tonning)
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Renew your Membership today!
Don't forget to renew your 2017 Membership with the MSA. If you haven't received your MSA Membership Card, Calendar, Annual Report and MSA Decal then you're missing out!
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Upcoming MSA Events You Don't Want to Miss
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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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