Contributions of Salmon from the Northwest Miramichi River, New Brunswick, to Various Fisheries

Abstract

Tagging studies with naturally produced smolts from the Northwest Miramichi River showed that adult salmon from this river make substantial contributions to commercial fisheries in the Miramichi area (trapnet fisheries in the Miramichi estuary and the adjoining drift-net fishery), around insular Newfoundland, and along the west coast of Greenland. Minor contributions are made to other commercial fisheries throughout the Canadian Maritime Provinces. Tagged Northwest Miramichi salmon were taken by angling in the Miramichi system only, principally the Northwest Miramichi. Commercial fisheries accounted for 32 and 87% of known recaptures of tagged grilse and larger salmon respectively; anglers, 24 and 10%; fish available for spawning, as measured by a counting fence, were 44 and 3%. The ratio of grilse to larger salmon among total recaptures was about 2:1; in fish available for spawning, about 28:1.