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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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The federal and provincial government jointly announced $4.7 million in funding for the Collaboration for Atlantic Salmon Tomorrow (CAST) in Miramichi, NB at The Rodd on Saturday November 5th, 2016. "CAST is a partnership of scientists, environmental groups and industry participants. Our focus is saving wild Atlantic salmon before it’s too late. Today we are working on six science projects on the Miramichi and Restigouche rivers. Our hope is that CAST will serve as a positive partnership model for Eastern Canada’s wild Atlantic salmon rivers."
CAST Website
The MSA will play a major role in many CAST projects and the Miramichi Salmon Conservation Center (MSCC) will be converted to accommodate the Adult Salmon Release program. Through the construction of a new building and improvements to existing buildings the MSCC will raise salmon from smolts to adults in a five year study to reduce "at sea" loss during migration.
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Below: Front model of new Smolt to Adult Rearing Facility to be located at the MSCC in South Esk, NB.
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Below: Building blueprint for the Smolt-to-Adult Rearing Facility to be located at the MSCC in South Esk, NB
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Want to know more about the CAST partners and the research projects planned? Be sure to check out the website at www.castforsalmon.com and watch the CAST video by
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Past Chairman and MSA Director Manley Price Saluted at MSA's Special Fall Dinner
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Above: Manley accepts certificate presented on behalf of the federal government from MP for Miramichi- Grand Lake Pat Finnigan
Below: Manley accepts certificate presented on behalf of the provincial government from the Hon. Bill Fraser.
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The Miramichi Salmon Association was pleased to honour a past Chairman and current MSA Director in a special fall event "Salute to Manley Price" on Saturday November 19th at the Woodmen's Museum in Boiestown, NB. During the last 20 years, as a Director with the MSA, Manley has been actively involved in some of our most successful projects. During his tenure as Board Chairman (2011-2014), the MSA successfully raised over $2.5 million through its 60th Anniversary ‘Miramichi Forever Fund’ Campaign. Manley was also instrumental in establishing MSA’s all-important relationship with International Paper, who has since become the MSA’s single largest donor, having now contributed and/or generated over $830,000 for the conservation of the Miramichi salmon.
Manley’s contributions to conservation and society go far beyond the MSA, including playing an integral part in the inception of the Miramichi Watershed Management Committee (MWMC), a long-time Director of the Boiestown Woodmen’s Museum, and a founding member of the New Brunswick Wildlife Trust Fund.
The event was a full house at the Central New Brunswick Woodmen's Museum in Boiestown ,NB and Manley was honored by guest speakers Bonnie Robinson, Vince Swazey, Jo-Anne Linton, Marc Moir and Bud Bird. Deputy Mayor of the Rural Community of Upper Miramichi, Grant Ross, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, Hon. Bill Fraser and MP for Miramichi-Grand Lake Pat Finnigan were all present to present Manley with certificates on behalf of their respective governments.
Manley was truly appreciative while accepting his award and was sure to recognize his wife Pat, as well as his family, friends and former co-workers who were present that evening.
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Above: MSA President Mark Hambrook presents Manley with Award and wife Pat with flowers.
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MSA Honours Long-Time Partner Miramichi Headwaters Salmon Federation
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Below: MSA President Mark Hambrook Presents MHSF Director Duane " Bimbo" Shaw with award
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The Miramichi Salmon Association hosted the 3rd Annual Carleton County Dinner on November 9th, 2016at the Covered Bridge Golf Club and honoured a long-time partner of the MSA, the Miramichi Headwaters Salmon Federation (MHSF) and one of their directors Duane “Bimbo” Shaw. Since the 1980’s the MHSF has been working with agencies and groups like DNR, DFO
and MSA to monitor, protect and enhance wild Atlantic salmon and sea trout returns to the headwaters of the Southwest Miramichi River.
The evening was lead by Master of Ceremonies, MSA Director Joe Palmer, who kept the night moving along at the Covered Bridge Golf Club. The live auction, facilitated by Sam Crouse, raised over $12,000 towards salmon conservation including the auctioning off of a special item for the MHSF, the "Miramichi Forever" framed print by John Swan. It was a well attended event and with over 140 salmon conservationist in attendance, was truly a success.
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Completion of Phase One of the Little Southwest Miramichi River Restoration by Anqotum Resource Management
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Major Restoration Project to Take Place over the Next 2 Years
Courtesy of Anqotums October 2016 Newsletter- Over several decades, Metepenagiag Mi’gmaq Nation has taken a lead role in gathering many partners to guide a sustainable restoration and enhancement of the Little Southwest Miramichi River for the value of all stakeholders, the River, and the targeted and benefiting species, including Atlantic salmon and brook trout. Phase one of this project, located approximately three kilometers upstream of the confluence with the Northwest Miramichi River, is wrapping up. Several years of geomorphic alterations that have occurred in the River, from salmon pool enhancements and bank restorations to riparian zone alterations, have resulted in substantial changes in terms of how its water flows and sediment moves. This year, a design was engineered to develop a restoration plan that works with the natural characteristics of this reach, with the goal of addressing the longstanding erosion issues. Anqotum Resource Management was approached by one of its member communities, Metepenagiag Mi’gmaq Nation, to collaborate and take a lead role in project management of the restoration activities. “We all live on this River. A river that not only supports the beauty of our lands - terrestrial and aquatic species and heritage resources - but the health of our people,” said Bill Ward – Chief of Metepenagiag Mi’gmaq Nation.
Next year, phase two will see the reshaping of the bank utilizing eco-friendly approaches such as foliage and trees native to the area, that will ensure the longevity of completed enhancements. This project is possible with the cooperation of several stakeholders, including local landowners, and funding by the Government of Canada. The North Shore Micmac District Council (NSMDC), has established Anqotum Resource Management as an Aboriginal Aquatic Resources and Oceans Management (AAROM) body to provide support for its member First Nations. Those First Nations are Elsipogtog, Buctouche, Eel Ground, Eel River Bar, Fort Folly, Indian Island, Metepenagiag and Pabineau First Nations. The (AAROM) Program is a vehicle for First Nations to establish a permanent presence in the Canadian Fishing Industry by developing a strategy focused on capacity building, combining resources, and strengthening relationships with all stakeholders. To learn more about Anqotum, please visit their website at www.anqotum.com.
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Conservation Programs Update
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with MSA Biologist
Holly Labadie
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Above: MSA Staff, Tyler Storey and Connor Donovan along electrofishing with volunteer Jack Riley.
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Above:
Volunteers, MSA staff and NBCC Forestry class do broodstock collection in Juniper, NB.
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Above: Beaver dam ready for removal on the NW Miramichi River.
Below: River flow after teams have breached the dam.
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MSA’s field programs wrapped up at the end of October, but not before crews were busy electrofishing, collecting broodstock, and notching beaver dams!
Field technicians Tyler Storey and Alexandra Dottin finished helping DFO electrofish their baseline sites for juvenile abundance at the end of September. The two then continued to lead MSA electrofishing crews into the beginning of October to help collect parr for genetic analysis for the University of New Brunswick (UNB) as part of the Collaboration for Atlantic Salmon Tomorrow (CAST) initiative. The crews worked long days to get the collection finished and their hard work paid off! The joint efforts of MSA, UNB, and DFO field crews saw all the required number of samples get collected for the project.
Broodstock were collected from the Northwest Barrier, Square Forks Camp on the Sevogle, the Little Southwest River, the Cains River, Clearwater Bridge, and the Southwest River at the Juniper Bridge from mid-September to mid-October. Spawning began at the Miramichi Salmon Conservation Centre (MSCC) in mid-October and was completed in early November. The eggs are incubated at the MSCC over the winter and after hatching will be released as first-feeding fry next June into their rivers of origin.
October was a busy month for beaver dams – crews removed over 50 dams, and many have required multiple return visits to re-breach them. Water levels on the Miramichi River were extremely low this fall, and with the rain we received over the third week of October, hopefully our efforts to clear the way for the salmon to move further up into these tributaries to reach better spawning habitat will be successful.
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Below:
River flow after teams have breached the dam.
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MSA's 10th Annual Calendar is Here!
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MSA's 10th Annual Calendar is completed and features 12 winning photographs from MSA's inaugural 2016 photo contest. Members should expect to receive calendars in the next few weeks via mail and they are available for purchase through our website shop or by contacting the MSA office at 506-622-4000. To purchase a calendar online Click here!
Cover photo credit: Eileen Cain.
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NB Wildlife Trust Fund: Don't forget to get your salmon on your license plate this year!
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The New Brunswick Wildlife Trust Fund (NBWTF) provides financial assistance to organizations throughout the province to help enhance and improve the habitat of our fish and wildlife.
A modest conservation fee is incorporated into the fees for hunting, trapping and fishing licenses, and is put directly into the NB Wildlife Trust Fund each year. New Brunswickers can also show their support by purchasing a special conservation license plate for an extra $7 per year. The extra cost of your registration fee will go directly to the NBWTF. The Conservation plates can be purchased from any Service New Brunswick office, and clearly identifies the driver as a proud supporter of wildlife. The NBWTF generously contributed $9,000 towards the MSA's electrofishing program and $6,000 towards our smolt tracking program in 2016. For more information on how to contribute Click Here!
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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!
Click here to sign up today!
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