Salmon Initiatives

The Bay of Fundy, bordered by New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, Canada houses two Atlantic Salmon Populations. One of which, the Inner Bay of Fundy Atlantic Salmon (iBoF) reside year-round within the Bay of Fundy and the Outer Bay of Fundy Atlantic Salmon (oBoF) which migrate to Greenland to feed during the summer. Sadly, we have watched with regretful angst as the iBoF Atlantic Salmon Population, which originally resided in many rivers, including the Pedicodiac, first became endangered and then started slipping closer and closer to potential extinction. Over thirty years ago a group of forward-thinking, experienced anglers also noticed a change in the oBoF Atlantic Salmon, including the Hammond River Salmon Population. They feared that the decline in salmon numbers would be an ongoing trend, as in the iBoF Atlantic Salmon, if something was not done. The entire Saint John River system, which includes the Hammond River, was closed to salmon angling in the mid-nineties in an effort to avoid the same plight for the oBoF population.

Yet, somehow through the years the Hammond River Atlantic Salmon population has generally been perceived to be significantly healthier than other local stocks. However, the data to back up that claim is limited. Although the Hammond River has no counting fence or smolt wheel to help capture valuable data on our population densities, other methods are employed to estimate population numbers yearly. The New Brunswick Wildlife Trust Fund has sponsored for three consecutive years a juvenile density survey, estimating Atlantic Salmon fry and parr numbers within the Hammond River Watershed. The juvenile densities are estimated by electrofishing a number of key brooks for which we have historical data. Spawning adult numbers are estimated by both Redd Counts, counting areas where individual salmon have spawned, and actively counting adult salmon from shore and by swimming. In Palmer Brook an annual broodstock count, which yields a number of healthy grilse and salmon each year, is completed. In addition to these valuable activities we also have a river system that has a unique ability to buffer local changes in the river. This is mostly due to the abundance of cold water springs and limestone bedrock that provides clear, cold water that is resistant to changes in temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH. The Hammond’s headwaters are pristine and mostly untouched.

All in all, HRAA’s most valuable resources in assessing and protecting the local salmon population are its volunteers: community members who come together to perform redd counts, collect broodstock, count salmon from bridges for adult assessments and do it for no other reason than the fact that they care enough to give a little. Thanks to all the volunteers who help keep HRAA’s Salmon Initiatives moving forward.