Vol. 50 September 2022

Hi everyone,

It seems like summer flew by. I hope this season brought many beautiful days on the river for you and your family, and that more days are planned for the fall. Thank you for supporting the MSA and the work we do. Together, we are putting salmon first on the Miramichi River.

The warm water protocol committee has been meeting frequently to evaluate water temperatures, water levels, and weather forecasts. We have been fortunate so far this season to not experience as many cold water pool closures or fishing restrictions as in previous years. We have heard from concerned outfitters and anglers about the variance in temperatures throughout the watershed and the challenges this can pose for a blanket warm water protocol- these concerns have been passed along and will be part of deeper discussions this fall when we reflect on the 2022 season and how processes can be improved for 2023. Thank you for your understanding and patience, and for putting salmon first. If you’re wondering about the protocol or current closures/re-openings, you can check out our social media pages, website, and email notices.

Our field crew has largely wrapped up cold water restoration and maintenance for the season and is busy electrofishing our annual sites. Returning to the same sites annually helps us evaluate population trends and past fry stocking activities, as well as monitor for beaver dam blockages.

Speaking of field crews- many of our students have wrapped up their time at the MSA this season and are returning to university. We had an outstanding group of students this season- they stepped up for long field days, early mornings and late evenings, and all while keeping a positive attitude and incredible work ethic. Thank you to all our students, and we hope to see them back again next year. We also appreciate financial assistance from the NB SEED program and Canada Summer Jobs.

Keep our photo contest in mind while you’re enjoying the river! Photo entries are due by October 15, and the contest is once again generously sponsored by the AV Group of NB. More details can be found on our website.

While you’re on our website, you can check out our river cam! Thanks to collaborators and supporters, there is a live feed of Bullock’s Lodge in Boiestown where you can watch river conditions.

Our dinner committees are hard at work for the fall season. The Fredericton Dinner is scheduled for October 5^th and the SJ Dinner is scheduled for November 4. Be sure to save these special dates and join us for evenings of salmon celebration!

The Miramichi Salmon Association continues to work with the partners of the smallmouth bass eradication working group. How we handle the invasive smallmouth bass in Miramichi Lake and a portion of the SW Miramichi will dictate how invasive species are handled in New Brunswick moving forward. We remain committed to this important project and thank our partners for their tireless efforts as well.

As we head into the fall season for angling, the MSA wants to once again share the DFO number to report suspicious activity. This number is answered 24 hours per day, and 7 days per week. The number is 1-506-857-6328. We can all play a part in protecting Atlantic Salmon on the Miramichi.

Have a wonderful September! 

Robyn

The 25th Annual Fredericton Dinner and Auction is set for October 5th at the Fredericton Inn. We invite you to join us for a fun night in honour of long-time MSA employee Jo-Anne Linton. For many years, Jo-Anne was the beating heart and spirit of the MSA. Please join us in celebrating her many years of commitment and dedication to Atlantic salmon conservation and the MSA. We have a fun night planned with a great live and silent auction lined up. For tickets, please click the link below or call Vanessa at 506 622 4000. Check out our auction preview below! 

Did you know that the MSA will be celebrating our 70th anniversary in 2023 and that the MSA run hatchery in South Esk will be 150 years old? To kick off our celebrations, and to recognize these two very special milestones, the MSA will be hosting a fun filled dinner at the Delta Brunswick in Saint John. The evening will feature an update from MSA President Dr. Robyn McCallum, a delicious meal, and some fun raffles. We will also be hosting a live auction with some excellent fishing trips and other items of interest to the angler or outdoor enthusiast. For tickets, or to purchase a sponsor table, please click the link below or call Vanessa at 506 622 4000. Tickets are available now - get yours before they run out! 

Photo by Kevin Sweezey

Photo by Iris Ciecko

August 29: We are just finishing up that time in the Miramichi season when fresh arrivals into the river normally hit the lowest point for the season. It is hard to say what triggers the start of the fall run, but statistically it begins the second week in September, and peaks the first week in October. Unless there is a really big rain these fall fish normally work their way up the river holding briefly at various pools along the way. In many ways this is the Miramichi at its best. 

A great catch at the Black Brook Salmon Club!

The MSA field crew has been hard at work carrying out MSA's electrofishing program in the headwaters of the Miramichi in an effort to determine population densities. Once priority areas are identified, they are stocked with Atlantic Salmon fry raised at the Miramichi Salmon Conservation Centre. By assessing electrofishing areas that were stocked the previous year, MSA staff are able to evaluate the success of past stocking activities. In many cases, areas that have been stocked in the past few years will show an increased presence of parr, identifying that area as a successful stocking site.

MSA biologist Lyndsay Jay-Keating working in the field recording electrofishing data

MSA's hatchery technician, Dylan Hyland, electrofishing in the headwaters of the Miramichi.

Juvenile salmon released back into the river after assessment.

MSA's 2022 Brain D. Moore Legacy fund recipient, Ellie Smallwood, was hard at work this summer creating a video series highlighting the work the MSA carries out during our field season. In her latest installment, Ellie highlights the work MSA conducts each year to enhance cold water refugia around the Miramichi watershed. Check our her excellent video below! Great work Ellie! 

The MSA would like to thank all of our summer students for the hard work and long hours they put in over the summer. It was a pleasure working with you all and we hope to see you again next year! Good luck in the school year ahead! We would also like to thank the NB SEED program and Canada Summer Jobs for their financial assistance. Below are a few photos from the summer.

Upcoming MSA Events

• MSA Fredericton Dinner --- October 5th
• MSA Saint John Dinner --- November 4th
• MSA Board of Directors meeting - November 18th - Freeport, Maine.
• MSA's Carleton County Christmas Auction - launching mid-November