Ministerial Advisory Committee on Atlantic Salmon
Posted 26 April 2015, 3:44 pm NDT
VP Hollis Yetman attending the NL Ministerial Advisory Committee on Atlantic Salmon by Video Conference
(larger version)
On Thursday April 23rd I spoke by video conference to the DFO ministerial advisory committee on Atlantic Salmon about our association and about some points relating to salmon around Lake Melville. I was the first presenter for the province. The following is what I presented.
The Labrador Hunting and Fishing Association Inc. (LHAFA) is a Not-For-Profit nongovernmental organization that provides a unified, single, strong regional voice to represent outdoor enthusiasts across Labrador on issues of wildlife conservation and resource management. The LHAFA was formed on November 11, 2010 by a group of conservation-minded residents in the Happy Valley-Goose Bay area.
Our aim is to undertake community projects that encourage and promote outdoor recreational activities and engage the general public especially our youth through the delivery of cultural, educational and safety orientated activities.
The Labrador Hunting and Fishing Association is dedicated to promoting the use and interest of hunters, fishers, trappers, anglers, boaters, shooters and other outdoor activities in Labrador. We are committed to conservation and we promote cooperation and the exchange of information with all like-minded people and organizations in using our wildlife resources in a sustainable and responsible manner.
In 2014 our Association represented some 353 members.
The LHAFA is an active participant of the Labrador Salmonid Advisory Committee and has been since it was formed. Some great discussion is generated from Aboriginal, Government and non-government and non-aboriginal stakeholders.
Some great research is being conducted throughout Labrador on Atlantic salmon and we commend those involved in such research. However, a common theme is that not enough research is being conducted and too many decisions are based on the limited research and studies. Broad scale decisions are made on Atlantic salmon angling regulations and subsistence net fishery quotas all while the research is extremely limited and generally funding limits the amount of work required to provide the necessary information to make the broad based decisions leave alone the river specific quotas.
As an example, some great work on Salmon genetics is being conducted in Lake Melville by the Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems research with the Marine Institute. More research in this regard is critical to develop a full understanding of more concentrated populations such as the Atlantic Salmon populations entering Lake Melville.
Salmon/trout return logs are mandatory and a critical component of the licencing requirement for subsistence net fishery participants. Evidence from these logs as well information from subsistent net fishery participants indicates that salmon numbers in the Lake Melville are very healthy with very little effort required to catch the allowed by-catch of Atlantic salmon permitted per licence. In fact, some fishers indicate that Salmon Stocks have never been better. The Upper Lake Melville Region has a strong and healthy Atlantic Salmon population based on subsistence net fishery returns and fishers reports. In fact there is nearly 100% reporting of returns which are mandatory making it a very excellent source of scientific data collection. The LHAFA suggests making better use of this worthwhile data source and even increasing the information collected by subsistence fishers.
More data should be gleaned and used from these returns along with sampling from fishers to make management decisions in upper Lake Melville.
Primarily, DFO science on Salmon in Labrador is based on counting fences and sport angling returns that are outside Lake Melville and hence is not a good representation to apply conservation restrictions on Lake Melville using this Data.
The LHAFA is opposed to broad scaled, province wide regulatory changes to salmon regulations and quotas while it appears that Atlantic salmon stocks in Upper Lake Melville appear healthy. Initial genetic studies may indicate that once Atlantic salmon enter Lake Melville from Coastal waters that they are destined for river systems that flow into Lake Melville and Goose Bay. As such, and based on the current data, present harvest levels on these stocks may be sustainable. Once again, more scientific research along with mandatory catch returns could provide more information prior to regulatory changes.
In addition and for consideration, Atlantic salmon and the waters that flow into Upper Lake Melville Region have nearly 0 angling pressure from local residents and have no angling by commercial outfitters and non-residents.
The Labrador Hunting and Fishing Association would like to thank the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Atlantic salmon for this opportunity and we look forward to a positive working relationship.
The Labrador Hunting and Fishing Association Inc. (LHAFA) is a Not-For-Profit nongovernmental organization that provides a unified, single, strong regional voice to represent outdoor enthusiasts across Labrador on issues of wildlife conservation and resource management. The LHAFA was formed on November 11, 2010 by a group of conservation-minded residents in the Happy Valley-Goose Bay area.
Our aim is to undertake community projects that encourage and promote outdoor recreational activities and engage the general public especially our youth through the delivery of cultural, educational and safety orientated activities.
The Labrador Hunting and Fishing Association is dedicated to promoting the use and interest of hunters, fishers, trappers, anglers, boaters, shooters and other outdoor activities in Labrador. We are committed to conservation and we promote cooperation and the exchange of information with all like-minded people and organizations in using our wildlife resources in a sustainable and responsible manner.
In 2014 our Association represented some 353 members.
The LHAFA is an active participant of the Labrador Salmonid Advisory Committee and has been since it was formed. Some great discussion is generated from Aboriginal, Government and non-government and non-aboriginal stakeholders.
Some great research is being conducted throughout Labrador on Atlantic salmon and we commend those involved in such research. However, a common theme is that not enough research is being conducted and too many decisions are based on the limited research and studies. Broad scale decisions are made on Atlantic salmon angling regulations and subsistence net fishery quotas all while the research is extremely limited and generally funding limits the amount of work required to provide the necessary information to make the broad based decisions leave alone the river specific quotas.
As an example, some great work on Salmon genetics is being conducted in Lake Melville by the Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems research with the Marine Institute. More research in this regard is critical to develop a full understanding of more concentrated populations such as the Atlantic Salmon populations entering Lake Melville.
Salmon/trout return logs are mandatory and a critical component of the licencing requirement for subsistence net fishery participants. Evidence from these logs as well information from subsistent net fishery participants indicates that salmon numbers in the Lake Melville are very healthy with very little effort required to catch the allowed by-catch of Atlantic salmon permitted per licence. In fact, some fishers indicate that Salmon Stocks have never been better. The Upper Lake Melville Region has a strong and healthy Atlantic Salmon population based on subsistence net fishery returns and fishers reports. In fact there is nearly 100% reporting of returns which are mandatory making it a very excellent source of scientific data collection. The LHAFA suggests making better use of this worthwhile data source and even increasing the information collected by subsistence fishers.
More data should be gleaned and used from these returns along with sampling from fishers to make management decisions in upper Lake Melville.
Primarily, DFO science on Salmon in Labrador is based on counting fences and sport angling returns that are outside Lake Melville and hence is not a good representation to apply conservation restrictions on Lake Melville using this Data.
The LHAFA is opposed to broad scaled, province wide regulatory changes to salmon regulations and quotas while it appears that Atlantic salmon stocks in Upper Lake Melville appear healthy. Initial genetic studies may indicate that once Atlantic salmon enter Lake Melville from Coastal waters that they are destined for river systems that flow into Lake Melville and Goose Bay. As such, and based on the current data, present harvest levels on these stocks may be sustainable. Once again, more scientific research along with mandatory catch returns could provide more information prior to regulatory changes.
In addition and for consideration, Atlantic salmon and the waters that flow into Upper Lake Melville Region have nearly 0 angling pressure from local residents and have no angling by commercial outfitters and non-residents.
The Labrador Hunting and Fishing Association would like to thank the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Atlantic salmon for this opportunity and we look forward to a positive working relationship.