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In 2024, the Wild Salmon Watersheds program reached a huge milestone with the deployment of smolt wheels on Newfoundland’s Terra Nova River and the Nepisiguit River in New Brunswick. This initiative, the program’s most substantial undertaking to date, not only advanced salmon research but also sparked remarkable community interest and involvement.
The smolt wheel operation on the Terra Nova was the first ever for Newfoundland and Labrador and became a focal point for the surrounding community. “We welcomed school groups eager to learn about the lifecycle of salmon,” said Derek Sparkes, president of the Freshwater Alexander bays Ecosystem Corporation.” Over 260 students of all ages, from kindergarten to grade 11, witnessed science in action as they watched biologists carefully insert tags into smolt. Acoustic tags allow researchers to track the movements of Atlantic salmon at sea, providing data that informs critical conservation measures.
The enthusiasm extended beyond the classroom. At the Glovertown Academy Kindergarten graduation, several students declared their visit to the smolt wheel as the highlight of their first school year. This connection between conservation science and education highlights how projects like this can inspire future environmental stewards.
And the eagerness to learn went beyond the school. A senior citizen, intrigued by the steady flow of vehicles to the river, decided to investigate. Her visit led to an impromptu tour by Derek Sparkes, who shared insights into the smolt wheel’s purpose and operation. It was a wonderful moment that illustrated the power of conservation to connect people of all ages with the natural world.
In New Brunswick, the smolt wheel operation on the Nepisiguit River offered its own unique blend of challenges and triumphs. At one point, the wheel narrowly avoided being lost over the river’s waterfalls! Despite the difficulties, the smolt wheel became a symbol of collaboration, with ASF, Pabineau First Nation, and the Nepisiguit Salmon Association working closely together to ensure the operation’s success. This partnership not only advanced the program’s conservation goals but also strengthened ties between communities and the river’s ecosystem.
Smolt wheel technology has a long history with ASF. ASF biologists first encountered smolt wheels while on a field trip to the Narraguagus River in Maine during the spring of 1997. Impressed by the wheel’s performance in capturing Atlantic salmon smolts, ASF staff felt the device would be an effective tool to estimate the size of salmon populations. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service loaned two smolt wheels to ASF in autumn of 1997 to assess the traps’ performance for capturing presmolts in the Tobique River, NB. This was the first time smolt wheels were used in Eastern Canada. The wheels proved successful and since 1998 several smolt wheels have been purchased for use throughout Atlantic Canada.
The rotating cone which gives smolt wheels their name, is driven by the flow of the water and safely intercepts and guides migrating salmon smolts into a live well. Researchers can then tag, measure, and release these fish upstream, using recapture rates to estimate run counts and assess the wheel’s efficiency. This data helps gauge a river’s productivity, as a healthy ecosystem supports a strong smolt run. These tags also help track migration routes. ASF and its partners have built decades-long datasets on iconic salmon rivers, offering invaluable insights into salmon populations and ecosystem health. Over the decades, smolt wheels have become an indispensable tool for salmon conservation and research.
The success of the 2024 smolt wheel operations demonstrates the profound impact of combining science, education, and community engagement. With strong partnerships, innovative technology, and stories of inspiration like those from Glovertown, the Wild Salmon Watersheds program continues to lay the foundation for a brighter future for Atlantic salmon.
As ASF expands the program, we’ll be using the lessons learned and connections forged in 2024. These efforts will help ensure that conservation remains a shared endeavor among scientists, communities, and nature enthusiasts alike.
Check out this video to see a smolt wheel in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMkZJYj7sDA