Restoring Ecosystems and Wild Origin Inner Bay of Fundy Atlantic Salmon through Marine Conservation Rearing

Fundy National Park (FNP), with its partners, has implemented an innovative restoration strategy which has seen over 2800 wild origin inner Bay of Fundy (iBoF) adult Atlantic salmon released back into their natal river in the last 4 years, resulting in a 29 year high in adult returns (as repeat spawners). We propose a multiyear monitoring program to determine the relationships between Atlantic salmon growth and survival, and their ecological and physical habitat. Specifically the objectives are (1) assess the adult salmon population (released and returning wild origin) in the Upper Salmon River, (2) evaluate wild produced (offspring without any captive exposure; being produced from eggs spawned, and freshwater phase completed in the river) smolt survival and migration resulting from adult introductions, (3) evaluate how freshwater production and productivity influence inter-stage survival of wild produced juvenile salmon, and (4) Identify how substrate (bedload) transport potentially reduces overwintering egg survival.

Contact: Dr. Kurt Samways, 506-451-6892, kurt.samways@unb.ca