Atlantic Salmon Federation

About: Atlantic Salmon Federation is a based out in . It is known for research contribution in the topics: Salmo & Population. The organization has 50 authors who have published 59 publications receiving 2088 citations.

The Plight and Outlook for Migratory Fish in the Gulf of Maine

Abstract: Rivers throughout the Gulf of Maine once contributed billions of juvenile fish into the marine ecosystem where they served as a critical forage base for cod and other groundfish. In the Central Gulf of Maine—Bay of Fundy watershed alone, over sixty rivers formed nine drainage basins and thirteen estuaries. For the past 12,000 years, the immense runs of migratory fish from these Gulf rivers provided important cultural, economic and ecological services throughout the Gulf watershed. However, in just a few short centuries, the heavy hand of humans has decimated native migratory populations and has broken the connections between rivers and the ocean. The resilience of these native species has allowed them to survive in low numbers throughout the Gulf, but fundamental shifts in fisheries management are needed to prevent their ultimate demise. Though much attention has been given to depleted groundfish stocks in the Gulf, there is a growing interest in restoring the historic, native assemblage of migratory fish to the rivers spanning the Gulf. Ecosystem management that has worked well on land is being adapted to the Gulf as scientists now recognize the strong linkages between the freshwater and marine environments. In the past several years, historic researchers such as Ted Ames and Deb Trefts have documented the disappearance of migratory forage stocks such as the river herrings and the subsequent disappearance of inshore cod stocks in both the 1800s and 1900s. The emergence of this practical knowledge and the awareness of the restoration potential of the rivers flowing into the Gulf is now generating Gulf-wide interest in implementing strategies that collectively contribute to the restoration of migratory fish and groundfish stocks. More than twelve species of migratory fish once returned each year to the major rivers in the Gulf of Maine. While the decline of Atlantic salmon has garnered much recent attention, it is, of course, only part of a larger decline in once-abundant migratory fish populations that historically defined rivers in the Gulf of Maine. Native populations of Atlantic and endangered shortnose sturgeon, American shad, alewives, blueback herring, and sea lamprey have also been nearly or completely extirpated from many of our larger rivers. The populations of other native sea-run species, such as American eel, rainbow smelt, striped bass, and tomcod, which have fared somewhat better, are severely limited in production potential compared to historical conditions.

Finding Resolution to Farmed Salmon Issues in Eastern North America

Abstract: As a result of pressures in both freshwater and marine environments, the number of wild Atlantic salmon returning to North American river’s declined from 1.5 million in 1975 to 350,000 in 2000. The situation is particularly acute in Canada’s Bay of Fundy and Downeast Maine, where many of the populations now number fewer than 100 adult fish. Aquaculture, once thought to be the saving grace of declining salmon populations, is now accused of being a significant threat to the restoration of wild salmon stocks in eastern North America. The industry’s exponential growth has resulted in a dense array of coastal farms many of which are in close proximity to the wild salmon rivers. The growing pains of this relatively young industry have included large, documented escapes and disease outbreaks. Given the current vulnerable state of the wild salmon stocks, the potential risk of genetic dilution and disease transmission from farmed fish is a serious concern to the regulators and environmental community. Today competing mandates between governmental agencies and friction between the federal and local jurisdictions are clouding proper regulatory oversight of the salmon farming industry. This air of uncertainty, frustrating to the industry and to the environmental groups alike, has forged partnerships between these two groups so often at Page 1 Finding Resolution to Farmed Salmon Issues in eastern North America Overview from Atlantic Salmon Federation P. O. Box 5200, St. Andrews, NB E5B 3S8 P. O. Box 807, Calais, ME USA 04619–0807 Tel: (506) 529–4581 www.asf.ca Finding Resolution to Farmed Salmon Issues in eastern North America by Andrew Goode, Vice President US Programs and Dr. Fred Whoriskey Jr.,, Vice President Research & Environment Atlantic Salmon Federation In the past 20 years aquaculture has grown exponentially in Canada’s Bay of Fundy and Downeast Maine. odds with each other in the past. Direct talks between salmon farmers and the environmental community have led to cooperation agreements on common areas of interest such as fish containment and disease. This collaborative approach has yielded more progress in the past year than previously attempted regulatory solutions. At the same time, outstanding issues remain. The industry wants to continue its use of European strains. Environmental groups like the Atlantic Salmon Federation want comprehensive bay management plans including the use of exclusion zones near critical salmon rivers. The ability of these groups to resolve these problems and to gain acceptance in the regulatory arena will require additional sacrifices. The salmon farmers must continue moving towards greater public accountability while the environmental groups need to rely on the best science available to base their policy. Ultimately, a coherent, regulatory structure based on a model of collaborative resolution may well be the only way to safeguard and possibly restore the beleaguered Atlantic salmon stocks of Maine and southern Canada. STATUS OF ATLANTIC SALMON IN NORTH AMERICA

Otolith microchemistry and acoustic telemetry reveal anadromy in non-native rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in Prince Edward Island, Canada

Abstract: This study examined the migratory patterns of introduced rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in three rivers in Prince Edward Island, Canada, using acoustic telemetry and otolith microchemistry. On...