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ASF Deploys Sonic Receivers in Strait of Belle Isle - Labrador Researchers from the ATLANTIC SALMON FEDERATION deploy a set of 22 sonic receivers across the 11 mile wide Strait of Belle Isle that separates Labrador and Newfoundland. Atlantic salmon with sonic transmitters leave rivers like the Miramichi, Restigouche, Cascapedia, etc. and travel through this strait on their way to feeding grounds off Labrador and near Greenland. ASF has been a pioneer in unravelling the deep mysteries of Atlantic salmon moving thousands of kilometres at sea. It is giving insights into reasons for increased at-sea mortality in the past 20 years.
Approaching a Smolt Wheel on the Riviere St-Jean (North Shore) ASF has been a pioneer in using smolt wheels to capture smolt on their swim down towards the ocean. They are measured, and most are released to continue their migration towards far ocean feeding grounds. Some smolt have sonic transmitters inserted, and are later found in receiver arrays in places like the Strait of Belle Isle.
Tracking Smolts down the Miramichi - 2005 ASF has been a pioneer in tracking Atlantic salmon with sonic transmitters inserted in smolt and adults. This video is a time-lapse representation of the movement of smolt down to the Gulf of St. Lawrence from Rocky Brook, a tributary of the Miramichi.
Smolt in a Smolt Wheel Underwater in a smolt wheel live tank - Atlantic salmon migrating downstream are captured, examined, weighed, and released by ASF Research staff, to complete their migration to the sea. This is generally in May.
Newfoundland Smolt Preparing To Continue Migration - 2007 Smolt with transmitters inserted are recovering in an aerated tank before continuing their migration out to sea. These smolt were found in Western Arm Brook, on Newfoundland's Great Northern Peninsula and not far from St. Barbe. ASF researchers completed this research along with deploying 22 sonic receivers across the Strait of Belle Isle between Newfoundland and Labrador in June 2007.
Dunk River Dam Collapses - A salmon catastrophe
Swimming Atlantic Salmon This video segment by Gilbert van Ryckevorsel shows Atlantic salmon keeping position in the current as they prepare to migrate further upstream towards spawning areas.
Atlantic Salmon Leaping at Humber Falls Atlantic salmon can leap waterfalls 3.5 metres/11 feet high. Humber Falls in western Newfoundland is one of the best accessible locations to see them jumping on their migration upstream to spawning areas.
Atlantic Salmon Digging Redd Manu Esteve is a researcher who has made videos of many species of salmon - but started with Atlantic salmon. In this case the Atlantic salmon give some indication of the force they use when moving large pieces of stone to make a nest.
Atlantic Salmon Smolt Release These smolts will swim downstream and out to sea, following their migration imperative to find their way to feeding grounds far from this river.
Didymosphenia - potentially harmful "Rock Snot" on the Matapedia In autumn 2006 ASF researchers discovered another risk for salmon rivers - the diatom Didymosphenia that creates a thick oxygen-reducing mat on the floors of streams. There is still no evidence whether or not it jeopardizes the nests and later growth of juvenile Atlantic salmon in the river, and by 2009 there is a more "wait-and-see" monitoring approach towards Didymo
Releasing Atlantic Salmon on Magaguadavic River, New Brunswick, Canada ASF fisheries technician Mike Best releases an adult wild Atlantic salmon to continue its upstream migration on the Magaguadavic. The salmon has been examined, a scale sample taken, and the health of the animal assessed. ASF staff are very careful to cause no harm to the animals
State-of-the-art Live Trawl for Post-Smolts at Sea ASF, together with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, developed a 'live-trap' trawl that was used to capture, assess and then release more than 120 post-smolt Atlantic salmon at sea near the southern edge of the Bay of Fundy. It was noteworthy that these post-smolts had few sea lice parasitizing them.
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What are NB's Atlantic salmon worth? June 29th, 2010
An op/ed by ASF's Bill Taylor in the Telegraph-Journal raises the issue of government support for Atlantic salmon conservation.
Researchers Teach Salmon Fry to Hunt June 17th, 2010
The Magaguadavic River Salmon Recovery group will release approximately 50,000 food savvy Atlantic salmon fry on Thursday, June 17, as part of a restoration effort that began in 1998.
Plankton Levels in Ocean Declining Steadily July 28th, 2010
The foundation of the marine food web has been declining, especially since the 1950s says a new study in Nature.
Salmon Pool Closing Policy Being Reviewed: DFO July 28th, 2010
Warm conditions, especially in the Miramichi is leading to a close look at the mechanisms by which the river is closed and re-opened for angling, according to DFO.
