S C C S. Research Document 2008/024 Document de recherche 2008/024. St. John's, NL A1C 5X1. Goose Bay, Labrador A0P 1S0

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1 C S A S Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat S C C S Secrétariat canadien de consultation scientifique Research Document 2008/024 Document de recherche 2008/024 Not to be cited without permission of the authors * Ne pas citer sans autorisation des auteurs * Harvests in various fisheries for salmonids, Atlantic salmon returns to rivers and environmental conditions in Labrador, 2005 Captures de salmonidés au cours de diverses pêches, retours de saumons atlantiques dans les cours d eau et conditions environnementales au Labrador, 2005 D. G. Reddin 1, R. J. Poole 2, W. King 2, S. Oliver 3, R. Nuna 4 and T. Parr 5 1 Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, P.O. Box 5667, St. John's, NL A1C 5X1 2 Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, P.O. Box 7003, Goose Bay, Labrador A0P 1S0 3 Labrador Inuit Association, P.O. Box 909, Happy Valley, Labrador A0P 1E0 4 Innu Nation, P.O. Box 119, Sheshatshiu, Labrador A0P 1M0 5 Labrador Métis Nation, P.O. Box 460, Goose Bay, Labrador A0P 1C0 * This series documents the scientific basis for the evaluation of fisheries resources in Canada. As such, it addresses the issues of the day in the time frames required and the documents it contains are not intended as definitive statements on the subjects addressed but rather as progress reports on ongoing investigations. Research documents are produced in the official language in which they are provided to the Secretariat. * La présente série documente les bases scientifiques des évaluations des ressources halieutiques du Canada. Elle traite des problèmes courants selon les échéanciers dictés. Les documents qu elle contient ne doivent pas être considérés comme des énoncés définitifs sur les sujets traités, mais plutôt comme des rapports d étape sur les études en cours. Les documents de recherche sont publiés dans la langue officielle utilisée dans le manuscrit envoyé au Secrétariat. This document is available on the Internet at: Ce document est disponible sur l Internet à: ISSN (Printed / Imprimé) Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2008 Sa Majesté la Reine du Chef du Canada, 2008

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3 ABSTRACT This paper summarizes information on angling and subsistence fisheries catch statistics for Labrador in The total return information collected from counting facilities is summarized. Environmental data collected at gauging stations is also provided. Landings recorded by the angling fishery were 1,824 small salmon retained, 5,982 small salmon released, 292 large salmon retained and 970 large salmon released. Subsistence fisheries in Labrador recorded landings of 13,253 Atlantic salmon weighing 31,914 kg, 10,949 Arctic charr weighing 16,764 kg, and 14,688 sea run brook trout weighing 11,676 kg. Returns to the four counting facilities in Labrador are documented and show higher returns of small and large salmon in 2005 compared to other years. In general, water levels in northern Labrador were below average and near minimum water levels during most of the season into the second or third week of August. For the remainder of the season water levels were near the mean water level. In southern Labrador water levels were near minimum levels at the beginning of the season. Late June water levels increased to mean water levels to maximum water levels in July and August. Below average water levels continued into the fall. RÉSUMÉ Ce document résume les données sur la pêche sportive et les captures dans le cadre des pêches de subsistance au Labrador, en L information sur le total des retours recueillie aux installations de dénombrement y est aussi résumée. On y trouve également les données environnementales recueillies aux stations hydrométriques. Les prises déclarés de la pêche sportive étaient de petits saumons conservés, petits saumons relâchés, 292 gros saumons conservés et 970 gros saumons relâchés. Les captures déclarées des pêches de subsistance au Labrador sont de saumons atlantiques, d un poids de kg, ombles chevaliers, pesant kg et ombles de fontaine anadromes, pesant kg. Les retours aux quatre installations de dénombrement du Labrador sont documentés et leur total en petits et en gros saumons est supérieur en 2005 à celui d autres années. En général, les niveaux d eau du nord du Labrador étaient inférieurs à la moyenne et près des niveaux minimaux pendant presque toute la saison, jusqu à la deuxième ou la troisième semaine d août. Pendant le reste de la saison, ils sont demeurés près de la moyenne. Dans le sud du Labrador, les niveaux d eau étaient près des niveaux minimaux au début de la saison. À la fin de juin, ils ont augmenté jusqu au niveau moyen de façon à atteindre leur niveau maximal en juillet et août. Les niveaux inférieurs à la moyenne se sont maintenus à l automne. iii

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5 INTRODUCTION In 1992, several major changes were introduced to the management of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) in Newfoundland and Labrador. A five-year moratorium was placed on commercial salmon fishing in the island portion of the province. Quotas for the Labrador commercial fishery, first introduced in 1990, were further reduced and a voluntary retirement of commercial salmon licences was instituted for the entire province. Beginning in 1997, the commercial fishery was closed in the Straits area of Labrador in Salmon Fishing Area (SFA) 14B and then in 1998, it was closed in the remaining SFAs 1 and 2 (Fig. 1). Fishers were offered a buyout which most accepted. In response to the Supreme Court of Canada decision interpreting Section 35 of the Constitution Act of 1982, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans provided resource access to Aboriginal groups for food, social and ceremonial purposes (FSC). In , a FSC or subsistence fishery of 10 t was available for members of the Labrador Inuit Association in the north as well as the Lake Melville area, both located in SFA 1. The Innu Nation also fish for salmon in Lake Melville from the community of Sheshatshiu and on the north coast from the community of Natuashish. They generally restrict themselves to harvests of around 3 t. Beginning in 2000 and continuing into 2005, residents of Labrador were able to fish in the sea for brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis Mitchill) and Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus L.) with a permitted bycatch of four salmon. In , members of the Labrador Métis Nation on the south coast of Labrador negotiated a subsistence fishery of 10 t with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in the area between Fish Cove Point and Cape St. Charles, located in SFA 2. The west Greenland commercial salmon fishery, which was closed for the 1993 and 1994 fishing seasons, was re-opened in 1995 and closed again in 1999, leaving only a small subsistence fishery in In 2001, the commercial Greenland fishery was opened with a structured quota system that depended on abundance based on in-season catches and historical averages to determine potential landings. Although there have been no recent tagging studies to document the distribution of Labrador salmon at sea, some Labrador origin multi-sea winter salmon may be caught in the Greenland fishery similar to what was shown for Labrador stocks in earlier studies by Pratt et al. (1974). In , the Greenland fishery was restricted to a local fishery of 22 t and in it was reduced to a subsistence consumption fishery only, estimated to be around 20 t. There are also harvests of salmon in the angling fishery in Labrador. In 1992 and 1993, a quota on the number of fish that could be retained was introduced. The quota was assigned for an entire SFA and was not administered on an individual river basis. Only hook-and-release fishing was permitted after the quota was caught. In 1994, quotas for the angling fishery were eliminated. In place of quotas, for Labrador, the season bag limit for retained salmon was lowered from eight to six fish, only two of which could be large salmon. In 1995 and 1996, the season bag limit for the angling fishery remained at six fish but only one large salmon could be retained. In 1999 and 2000, the angling fishery was restricted to a seasonal limit of four salmon retained, one of which could be large, and a daily limit of four salmon could be hooked-and-released. In 1999, use of barbless hooks became mandatory. In 2001, as part of a Management Plan, several additional rivers in southern Labrador crossed by the new Trans Labrador Highway were added to the list of scheduled rivers and restricted to individual bag limits of two small salmon retained. In order to identify legally caught salmon, anglers were issued tags to attach 1

6 through the mouth and gills of retained salmon. In 2005, the Management Plan maintained these limits. The purpose of this paper is to document harvests of salmon in subsistence fisheries and angling, to document the returns of small and large salmon to counting facilities and to describe the environmental conditions in Labrador for ANGLING FISHERIES METHODS Catch and effort data from the angling fishery in northern (SFA 1) and southern Labrador (SFA 2) were collected by Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) enforcement staff in conjunction with angling reports submitted by commercial sports camp operators and processed by DFO Science Branch (Fig. 1). Procedures for the collection and compilation of angling and commercial fishery data are described by Ash and O'Connell (1987). For purposes of separating 1SW salmon from 2SW salmon in angling fisheries, small salmon are defined as those salmon less than 63 cm and will be mainly 1SW (grilse) in age. Large salmon are those salmon equal to or greater than 63 cm and will be mainly 2SW and older in age. A rod day is any day or portion of a day during which fishing takes place. In 1994, a new system, viz. the License Stub Return System (LSRS) was initiated for collecting angling statistics in Newfoundland and Labrador. It is based on attaching to the provincial angling licence a detachable stub upon which the angler can record details of where and when the fishing activity took place and the numbers of small and large salmon caught and released. The Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) is calculated by dividing the catch data (salmon retained + released) by the effort expenditure (the number of rod days) of the angler (O Connell et al. 1998). The lack of comparability of DFO angling statistics and the LSRS was a concern, therefore, the data collected by the Conservation and Protection (C&P) staff and the camp operator data will continue to be used for Labrador in SFA 1. For SFA 2, a blend of LSRS and camp operator data was used; whereby camp operator data was used for Eagle and Sand Hill rivers and LSRS data for all other rivers. The retained catches reported by these two methods were similar. For SFA 14B rivers, the catch statistics for were derived from the License Stub Return System. The Management Plan for the angling fishery in Labrador was as follows: Season: 15 June to 15 September Catch limits: four salmon per season, one of which can be large; except on Class III rivers where only two small salmon could be retained for the season Hook and release limits: four per day 2

7 SUBSISTENCE FISHERIES In 2005, there were four subsistence fisheries harvesting salmonids in Labrador: 1 LIA (Labrador Inuit Association, presently the Nunatsiavut Government) members fishing in the northern Labrador coastal communities of Rigolet, Makkovik, Hopedale, Postville, and Nain and in Lake Melville; 2 Innu Nation members fishing in Natuashish and in Lake Melville from the community of Sheshatshiu; 3 Labrador residents fishing in coastal communities in northern Labrador from Davis Inlet to Cape Chidley, Lake Melville and coastal communities in southern Labrador from Cartwright to Cape St. Charles and, 4 LMN (Labrador Métis Nation) members fishing in southern Labrador from Fish Cove Point to Cape St. Charles. The LIA, Innu, and LMN fisheries were self-regulated by Aboriginal Fishery Guardians hired by these groups as well as the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Fishery Officer and Guardian staff. The DFO staff are also responsible for regulating the resident fishery. For the LIA, LMN and resident fisheries, tags for salmon were issued on an individual fisher basis to attach to salmon so that legally caught salmon could be identified. There was a catch limit on charr and trout combined of 50 fish per designate or license holder. Furthermore, there is a limit of one designate or licence holder per household. Catch statistics were derived from logbooks issued to each fisher. The Innu Nation guardians collected catch statistics by maintaining a daily record of landings per family. Total catches were estimated by adjusting the logbook catches proportionately to the number of fishers reporting out of the total designated/licenced. A summary of the year 2005 Management Plans for the four subsistence fisheries as they pertain to salmon follows: LABRADOR INUIT ASSOCIATION The conditions for the LIA Communal fishery were as follows: Harvest Limits: an allocation of 10 t of salmon for the season for that portion of coastal Labrador extending from Fish Cove Point, north to Cape Chidley, including Lake Melville (Zone 1) Fishing Season: May 14-July 9 and July 19-August 14 in Goose Bay, North West River and Mud Lake, May 14-August 31 in Rigolet, June 1-August 31 in Makkovik and Postville, June 1-September 30 in Hopedale and Nain INNU NATION The Community Guidelines for the Innu Nation fishery were as follows: Harvest limits: thirty per household with a 1,500 community total for the season. Only fishers or their designates were allowed to fish in Lake Melville for an allocation of 3.0 t and 0.5 t in Natuashish Fishing Season: mid-june to end of 1 st week of August and mid-june to end of July for Sheshatshiu in Lake Melville 3

8 LABRADOR MÉTIS NATION The conditions for the LMN Communal fishery were as follows: Harvest limits: an allocation of 10 t permitted to be harvested for the season in the area from Fish Cove Point to Cape St. Charles Fishing Season: July 7-August 15 LABRADOR RESIDENTS The Management Plan for the Labrador Resident fishery was as follows: Catch limits: four salmon per licence with a limit of 50 trout or charr Fishing Season: July (Fish Cove Point to Bolsters Rock) and July (Bolsters Rock to Cape Charles) in southern Labrador, June 15-July 2 and July 22-August 6 (Kenamu closes July 30th) (Cape Rouge to Fish Cove Point (including Lake Melville)) and June 17-July 3 (Cape Rouge to Davis Inlet) and July 1-17 (Davis Inlet to Cape Chidley) in northern Labrador TOTAL SALMON RETURNS TO RIVERS Total returns to rivers in Labrador are available for six river systems and one tributary. Total returns have been previously reported by Lowe and Mullins (1996) for Forteau Brook and Mullins and Caines (1998) for Pinware River (updated by Mullins, pers. comm.), by Reddin et al. (1996) for Sand Hill River, by Reddin and Short (2000) for Big Brook, and by Reddin et al. (2000) for English River. In 2002, there was a counting fence in operation on Muddy Bay Brook (Dykes River) for the first time. The counting fence on Southwest Brook, a tributary to Paradise River, was in operation since However, this counting facility was not in operation in Muddy Bay Brook and Southwest Brook returns were reported for by Reddin et al. (2005). Total returns to rivers include counts at counting fence traps plus downstream angling catches as well as estimates of hook and release mortalities, which are assessed at 10% of the number of salmon hooked and released. ENVIRONMENTAL DATA Environmental data consisting of water flow conditions are collected annually from a system of gauging stations set on various rivers which are operated by Environment Canada. Several of these stations have automated data collection platforms with provision for downloading data via satellite. The Province of Newfoundland and Labrador through the Department of Environment and Labour is responsible for downloading the data and provides it in near-real time; albeit with no quality control. Data are archived by Environment Canada after quality control and made available from the Environment Canada Hydat System. Flow data from Alexis, Eagle, Naskaupi, and Ugjoktok rivers were selected to be representative of conditions on Labrador salmon rivers in

9 ANGLING SALMON FISHERY DATA RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The angling data for 2005 was compared to the previous 5-year mean ( ). In SFA 1, the total catch (small and large salmon combined) of 1,464 in 2005 increased over the 5 year mean ( ) by 5% (Table 1). Of the previous 5 years, the catch was 53% lower in 2002 and in 2004 it was 28% higher (3 of the 5 years had higher catches than in 2005). In SFA 2, the total catch of 5,830 was greater than the previous 5 year mean by 6.3%. Of the previous 5 years, the catch in 2003 was 16% lower and in 2000 it was 8% higher than in 2005 (Table 2). In SFA 14B, the total catch of 1,774 was 30% lower than the previous 5 year mean. The highest catch rate of the previous 5 years was 103% higher than in 2005 and took place in the year 2000 (Table 3). In 2005, the total Labrador angling catch in all SFAs was 9,068 salmon including hooked and released fish which was 3.5% lower than levels the total angling experienced by the previous 5 year mean. Of the previous 5 years, the catch in 2002 was 8% lower and in 2000 it was 25% higher than in 2005 (Table 4). The catch of small salmon was 7,806 (1,824 retained and 5,982 released) and large salmon was 1,262 (292 retained and 970 released). The proportion of salmon released by anglers in Labrador has been increasing in recent years. It includes up to 77% of the total catch. In total, there were 6,952 small and large salmon reported to have been hooked and released in 2005 (Tables 1-4). SUBSISTENCE FISHERIES DATA In 2005, the following landings of salmon were reported for the subsistence fisheries in Labrador: Small salmon Large salmon Total Number Weight (kg) Number Weight (kg) Number Weight (kg) SFA 1 4,958 10,116 1,687 6,930 6,644 17,046 SFA 2 5,479 10,922 1,130 3,946 6,609 14,868 TOTAL 10,436 21,038 2,817 10,876 13,253 31,914 In total, there were about 13,250 salmon reported by subsistence fisheries in Labrador with a total weight of about 31,900 kg. In SFA 1 there was a slight decrease, while in SFA 2 there was a slight increase in the number and weight of salmon harvested over The 2005 total food fishery landings of small and large salmon in Labrador are 1% higher than in Food fishery landings are listed in Table 5 for those years of available data. 5

10 In 2005, the following landings of charr and trout were reported for the subsistence fisheries in Labrador: Charr Trout Total (Charr + Trout) Number Weight (kg) Number Weight (kg) Number Weight (kg) SFA 1 6,880 12,246 9,562 7,557 16,442 19,803 SFA 2 4,069 4,518 5,126 4,119 9,195 8,637 TOTAL 10,949 16,764 14,688 11,676 25,637 28,440 In total, there were 10,949 charr with a total weight of 16,764 kg and 14,688 brook trout with a total weight of 11,676 kg reported in the fisheries in Lake Melville (SFA 1), northern (SFA 1) and southern Labrador (SFA 2) in 2005 during the open water fishing season. The total numbers of charr and trout landed in Labrador are unknown as there is no reporting system for fish caught either through the ice in the winter/spring or by recreational fishing in summer. Food fishery landings of charr and trout in Labrador are listed in Table 6 for those years of available data. TOTAL RETURNS TO RIVERS Total returns of small and large salmon to rivers in Labrador with counting facilities are listed in Table 7 for those years of available data. On the rivers with time series information, declines were observed for small and large salmon on Forteau Brook ( ), increasing small and large salmon for Sand Hill River ( , and ) and increasing trends for small and large salmon at Southwest Brook (Paradise River, , and ). Muddy Bay Brook showed an increased trend in the number of small salmon; whereas, large salmon returns decreased from the previous two years. Returns of small and large salmon show a declining trend at English River ( ); however, in 2005 small salmon returns increased to levels not seen since For Sand Hill River in 2005, the number of small and large salmon increased to numbers higher than all of the years with available data. Small salmon have increased on Southwest Brook; whereas, large salmon have remained similar to 2004; however, remaining higher than all other years. ENVIRONMENTAL DATA Daily water flow rates on Alexis River for most of June in 2005 were near the minimum daily flows, increasing to mean flows at the end of June. The daily water flow rate then fluctuated between the mean and minimum daily flows until mid July. Daily flows remained at minimum flow rates for the third week in July then it spiked to maximum levels at the last week in July. For the first two weeks of August water flows were at mean water flow rates or slightly above. During the third week in August there was a high water event with the water flow rising to maximum water flows rates. Near the end of August, early September, the water flow fell to mean rates. During the second and third week of September water levels were slightly above the minimum water levels then briefly increasing to mean water flow rates followed by a decrease to minimum rates into the fall (Fig. 4). At the beginning of June the daily water flows on Eagle River in 2005 were below the mean for daily water flows. The water flow rates continued to decline to minimum levels from the end of the first week in June to the end of June. For the month of 6

11 July until the third week in August the water flow were between the mean and minimum rates. Near the end of August the water levels increased to maximum levels and then declined to mean water flow rates during the second week of September staying slightly below mean rates into the fall (Fig. 3). On June 1, daily flow conditions on Ugjoktok River in 2005 were decreasing to the mean water flow rate and steadily declined to minimum water flow levels until the second week of August, with the exception of a slight increase above minimum levels during the forth week of June. During the third week in August, water flow rates began to increase to maximum levels and then slowly decreased to mean water flow rates for the remainder of the month of September (Fig. 4). The daily water flow rates for the Naskaupi River in 2005 show a decrease to the mean water flow rate and to minimum water flow levels and remaining there until the second week of August, with the exception of a slight increase above minimum levels during the forth week of June. During the third week in August, water flow rates began to increase to maximum levels and then slowly decreased to mean water flow rates for the remainder of the month of September (Fig. 5). SALMON RIVERS IN LABRADOR Anderson (1985) lists 120 rivers in Labrador from the southern border with Quebec to Cape Chidley. A summary is provided here along with estimates of rearing and drainage areas for all known salmon rivers including some omitted by Anderson (1985). There are some rivers that were left out of this list, i.e. Barge Bay Brook and Southwest Tributary of White Bear River that will be added in the future as more information becomes available. Of these, there currently are about 77 rivers with salmon that have a drainage area bigger than about 50 km 2. In Labrador some of these rivers have only salmon in them whereas others have a mix of Atlantic salmon, brook trout and Arctic charr. The survey information from these rivers if available are detailed in Table 8. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The assistance of the staff of DFO Goose Bay, DFO Fisheries Officers and Guardians and Aboriginal Guardians and staff is gratefully acknowledged. Ms. J. Andersen and Mr. C. Dyson provided valuable help with data entry. Staff of Environment Canada provided the flow data. 7

12 REFERENCES Anderson, T.C The rivers of Labrador. Can. Spec. Publ. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 81: 389 p. Ash, E.G.M., and O'Connell, M.F Atlantic salmon fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador, commercial and recreational, Can. Data Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 672: v p. Lowe, S.L., and Mullins, C.C Status of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) stock on the Forteau River, DFO, Atlantic Fisheries Sci. Advis. Sec Res. Doc. 96/87, 31 p. Mullins, C.C., and D. Caines Status of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) stock of Pinware River, Labrador, DFO Can. Stock Assess. Sec. Res. Doc. 98/116, 37 p. Murphy, H.P A helicopter reconnaissance survey of Eagle, Paradise, and White Bear Rivers, Sandwich Bay, Labrador, August Fish. Serv. Res. Dev. Branch Nfld. Reg. Prog. Rep. 83: v + 53 p A helicopter reconnaissance survey of 21 Labrador rivers, August- September, Fish. Serv. Res. Dev. Branch Nfld. Reg. Prog. Rep. 95: xi p A helicopter reconnaissance survey of 17 Labrador rivers, August Fish. Serv. Res. Dev. Branch Nfld. Reg. Prog. Rep. 101: xi p. Murphy, H.P., and Porter, T.R Stream surveys of 31 rivers of Labrador. Vol. I: English River to Fraser River. Fish. Mar. Serv. Res. Dev. Branch Nfld. Reg. Intern. Rep. Ser. No. NEW/1-74-8: vii p. O'Connell, M.F., Cochrane, N.M., Ash, E.G.M., and Mullins, C.C. MS An analysis of the License Stub Return System in the Newfoundland Region, DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 98/111, 67 p. Peet, R.F A report on the counting trap and reconnaissance surveys conducted in central coastal Labrador during Fish. Serv. Res. Dev. Branch Nfld. Reg. Prog. Rep. 68: xiv p. Pratt, J.D., Hare, G.M., and Murphy, H.P Investigations of production and harvest of an Atlantic salmon population, Sandhill River, Labrador. Fish. Mar. Serv. Res. Dev. Branch Nfld. Reg. Tech. Rep. Ser. No. NEW/ T-74-1: iii + 27 p. Reddin, D.G., Poole, R.J., Brown, V., and Lethbridge, R Salmonid returns to Southwest Brook (Paradise River) and Muddy Bay Brook, Labrador in DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2005/ p. Reddin, D.G., Short, P.B., O Connell, M.F., and Walsh, A.D Atlantic salmon stock status for Sand Hill River, Labrador, DFO, Can. Atlantic Fisheries Sec. Res. Doc. 96/ p. 8

13 Reddin, D.G., P.B. Short, G. Sheppard, and S. Lowe The stock status of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) in English River, Labrador, DFO Can. Stock Assess. Sec. Res. Doc. 2000/046, 20 p. Reddin, D.G., and P.B. Short The stock status of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) in Big Brook (Michaels River), Labrador, DFO Can. Stock Assess Sec. Res. Doc. 2000/045, 32 p. Riche, L.G A preliminary biological survey of the Naskaupi, Kenamu and Lower Churchill rivers. Dep. Fish. Can. Fish. Cult. Dev. Branch Nfld. Prog. Rep. 30: vi + 82 p. 9

14 Table 1. Atlantic salmon recreational fishery catch and effort data for Salmon Fishing Area 1, Labrador, Ret. = retained fish; Rel. = released fish. Effort Small (<63 cm) Large (>= 63 cm) Total (Small + Large) Year Rod Days Ret. Rel. Total Ret. Rel. Total Ret. Rel. Total CPUE * IN THE ABOVE TABLE A PERIOD INDICATES NO DATA FOR THAT YEAR. CPUE IS BASED ON RETAINED + RELEASED FISH FOR AND ON RETAINED FISH ONLY PRIOR TO DATA PRELIMINARY 10

15 Table 2. Atlantic salmon recreational fishery catch and effort data for Salmon Fishing Area 2, Labrador, Ret. = retained fish; Rel. = released fish. DFO data from and Licence Stub Return System from Effort Small (<63 cm) Large (>= 63 cm) Total (Small + Large) Year Rod Days Ret. Rel. Total Ret. Rel. Total Ret. Rel. Total CPUE * IN THE ABOVE TABLE A PERIOD INDICATES NO DATA FOR THAT YEAR. CPUE IS BASED ON RETAINED + RELEASED FISH FOR AND ON RETAINED FISH ONLY PRIOR TO DATA PRELIMINARY **COMBINATION OF LICENSE STUB, DFO AND CAMP DATA. ( IS DFO AND CAMP DATA ONLY) 11

16 Table 3. Atlantic salmon recreational fishery catch and effort data for Salmon Fishing Area 14B, Labrador, Ret. = retained fish; Rel. = released fish. DFO data from and Licence Stub Return System from Effort Small (<63 cm) Large (>= 63 cm) Total (Small + Large) Year Rod Days Ret. Rel. Total Ret. Rel. Total Ret. Rel. Total CPUE ** ** ** ** * ** * ** * ** * ** * ** * ** * ** * ** * IN THE ABOVE TABLE A PERIOD INDICATES NO DATA FOR THAT YEAR. CPUE IS BASED ON RETAINED + RELEASED FISH FOR AND ON RETAINED FISH ONLY PRIOR TO *NOT ALLOWED TO RETAIN LARGE SALMON IN SFA 14B, **DATA OBTAINED FROM THE LICENSE STUB RETURN (2005 DATA ARE PRELIMINARY). 12

17 Table 4. Atlantic salmon recreational fishery catch and effort data for Labrador (SFA 1, 2, and 14B), Ret. = retained fish; Rel. = released fish. DFO data from and Licence Stub Return System from (2005 data preliminary) Effort Small (<63 cm) Large (>= 63 cm) Total (Small + Large) Year Rod Days Ret. Rel. Total Ret. Rel. Total Ret. Rel. Total CPUE

18 Table 5. Total salmon food fishery landings adjusted by subarea for nonlicences, Small salmon Large salmon Total Number Weight (kg) Number Weight (kg) Number Weight (kg) SFA 1 SFA ,739 5,580 1,084 4,220 3,824 9, ,111 8,111 1,092 4,365 5,203 12, ,394 6,995 1,299 5,121 4,708 12, ,609 7,386 1,015 4,441 4,624 11, ,382 9,094 1,639 7,026 6,021 16, ,822 10,038 2,210 8,656 7,032 18, ,958 10,116 1,687 6,930 6,644 17, ,212 2, ,472 3, ,396 2, ,378 1,770 4, ,197 4, ,549 2,619 5, ,095 4, ,885 2,632 5, ,480 7,166 1,450 5,480 5,050 12, ,479 10,922 1,130 3,946 6,609 14,868 All areas ,739 5,580 1,084 4,220 3,824 9, ,323 10,353 1,352 5,262 6,675 15, ,789 9,789 1,673 6,499 6,478 16, ,806 11,581 1,437 5,990 7,243 17, ,477 13,196 2,175 8,912 8,653 22, ,302 17,204 3,660 14,136 12,081 31, ,436 21,038 2,817 10,876 13,253 31,914 14

19 Table 6. All trout and charr food fishery landings adjusted by subarea for non-reporting and non-used licences, Charr Trout Total (Charr + Trout) Number Weight (kg) Number Weight (kg) Number Weight (kg) SFA 1 SFA ,226 6,092 12,122 9,568 16,348 15, ,175 13,442 10,567 9,816 17,742 23, ,574 9,726 8,028 6,355 14,602 16, ,282 8,924 8,363 6,547 14,644 15, ,880 12,246 9,562 7,557 16,442 19, ,147 5,156 10,467 7,647 15,614 12, ,126 6,994 10,861 8,774 17,987 15, ,043 5,322 6,410 5,264 11,453 10, ,272 4,815 4,666 3,720 8,939 8, ,069 4,518 5,126 4,119 9,195 8,637 All areas ,373 11,248 22,589 17,215 31,962 28, ,301 20,436 21,428 18,590 35,729 39, ,616 15,048 14,438 11,619 26,055 26, ,554 13,739 13,029 10,267 23,583 24, ,949 16,764 14,688 11,676 25,637 28,440 15

20 Table 7. Summary of total returns to rivers in Labrador. Total returns include angling catches below counting facilities plus counts from counting fence or mark recapture population estimate. Forteau Brook Pinware River Sand Hill River Paradise River and Southwest Brook Muddy Bay Brook Big Brook English River Year Small Large Small Large Small Large Small Large Small Large Small Large Small Large Small Large

21 Table 8. Drainage areas, parr habitat and potential adult production for Labrador rivers including references. Numbers in bold type are estimated from SFA totals. 1 indicates that drainage basin has been re-surveyed and is different than in Anderson (1985). Rivers in bold and italic have angling data for some years but not all years. No. River SFA Region Total Parr rearing habitat Reference Watershed Drainage (km 2 ) Accessible Inaccessible Egg requirement Potential adult Total Accessible (units) (units) (million) production 1 Ferteau Brook 14B Straits shore , 13 2 Lance aux Loup Brook 14B Straits shore Pinware River 14B Straits shore , 2, 14 4 Wiseman Brook 14B Straits shore ,2 5 Black Bay Brook 14B Straits shore ,2 6 Temple Brook 2 Southern St. Peters River 2 Southern Subtotal SFA 14B 14B Straits shore St. Charles River 1 2 Southern ,1 9 Mary s Hr River 1 2 Southern ,1 10 Hoop Pole Brook 1 2 Southern ,2 11 St. Lewis River 1 2 Southern ,1 12 Port Marnham Brook 2 Southern ,2 13 Deer Harbour 2 Southern ,2 14 Notleys Brook 2 Southern ,2 15 Bobby s Brook 2 Southern Black Water Brook 2 Southern ,0 17 Alexis River 1 2 Southern ,1 18 Shinneys Waters 1 2 Southern ,1 19 Gilbert River 1 2 Southern ,5 20 Brook of St. Michael s Bay 2 Southern ,2 21 Seven Mile Pond River (River 14) 2 Southern White Bear Arm River 2 Southern Peters Brook (River 16) 2 Southern Hawke River 2 Southern Caplin Bay Brook 2 Southern Partridge Bay Brook 2 Southern Shoal Bay River 20 2 Southern Shoal Bay Brook 2 Southern River 22 2 Southern Black Bear River 2 Southern Open Bay Brook 2 Southern Porcupine Harbour River 2 Southern River 26 2 Southern Reeds Pond Brook 2 Southern

22 Table 8 Cont d. No. River SFA Region Total Parr rearing habitat Reference Watershed Drainage (km 2 ) Accessible Inaccessible Egg requirement Potential adult Total Accessible (units) (units) (million) production 35 Sand Hill River 1 2 Southern Muddy Bay Brook 1 2 Southern ,8 37 Paradise River 2 Southern ,6 38 Eagle River 2 Southern ,6 39 Southwest Brook 2 Southern White Bear River 2 Southern ,1 41 North River 1 2 Southern Subtotal SFA 2 2 Southern Flatwater Brook 1A Lake Melville English River 1A Lake Melville Kenemich River 1A Lake Melville Kenamu River 1A Lake Melville Traverspine River 1A Lake Melville Churchill River 1A Lake Melville ,11 48 Goose River 1A Lake Melville Cape Caribou River 1A Lake Melville Beaver River 1A Lake Melville Susan River 1A Lake Melville Naskaupi River 1A Lake Melville ,9 53 Crooked River 1A Lake Melville Sebaskachu River 1A Lake Melville Mulligan River 1A Lake Melville Subtotal SFA 1A Double Mer 1B Northern Partridge Point Brook (River 49) 1B Northern Tom Luscombe Brook 1B Northern West Brook 1B Northern Middle Brook 1B Northern /54 Pottles Bay River 1B Northern Byron Bay River 1B Northern Big Brook (Michaels River) 1B Northern Jeanette Bay Brook 1B Northern River 58 1B Northern Tukialik River 1B Northern Pamiulik River 1B Northern Stag Bay Brook 1B Northern Rattling Brook 1B Northern

23 Table 8 Cont d. No. River SFA Region Total Parr rearing habitat Reference Watershed Drainage (km 2 ) Accessible Inaccessible Egg requirement Potential adult Total Accessible (units) (units) (million) Production 70 Big River 1B Northern Adlavik River 1B Northern River 65 1B Northern River 66 1B Northern Makkovik Brook 1B Northern Makkovik River 1B Northern South Brook 1B Northern Kaipokok River 1B Northern English River 1B Northern ,12 79 River 72 1B Northern Kanairiktok River 1B Northern Little Bay River 1B Northern River 75 1B Northern Adlatok (Ugioktok) River 1B Northern Hunt River 1B Northern River 78 1B Northern Flowers River 1B Northern Rivers 80/81 1B Northern Sango Brook 1B Northern Subtotal SFA 1B Total No habitat or obstructions surveys assumed 100% accessible 1 Anderson (1985) 2 Kelly (2003) 3 Murphy and Porter (1974) 4 Murphy (1973) 5 Murphy (1972) 6 Murphy (1971) 7 Murphy obstructions survey (unpublished) 8 Peet (1971) 9 Reddin 1997 (unpublished data) 10 Riche (1965) 11 NF Hydro Survey 12 English River project survey data 13 Lowe and Mullins 1996 CSAS Res. Doc. 96/87 14 Mullins and Caines 1998 CSAS Res. Doc. 98/116 19

24 1 Ugjoktok River 2 English River 3 Big Brook 4 Naskaupi River 5 Eagle River 6 Paradise River (Southwest Brook) 7 Dykes River (Muddy Bay Brook) 8 Sand Hill River 9 Alexis River 10 Pinware River 11 Forteau Brook Labrador Figure 1. Labrador showing generalized locations of Salmon Fishing Areas and rivers mentioned in the text. 20

25 Flow rate in m³ per sec Mean ( ) Min ( ) Max ( ) May 13-Jun 28-Jun 13-Jul 28-Jul 12-Aug 27-Aug 11-Sep 26-Sep Figure 2. Flow rates for Alexis River indicating mean, minimum and maximum flows for , with a comparison to the flow rates in

26 Flow rate in m³ per sec Mean ( ) Min ( ) Max ( ) May 13-Jun 28-Jun 13-Jul 28-Jul 12-Aug 27-Aug 11-Sep 26-Sep Figure 3. Flow rates for Eagle River indicating mean, minimum and maximum flows for , with a comparison to the flow rates in

27 Flow rate in m³ per sec Mean ( ) Min ( ) Max ( ) May 13-Jun 28-Jun 13-Jul 28-Jul 12-Aug 27-Aug 11-Sep 26-Sep Figure 4. Flow rates for Naskaupi River indicating mean, minimum and maximum flow for , with a comparison to the flow rates in

28 Flow rate in m³ per sec Mean ( ) Min ( ) Max ( ) 2005 May 29 Jun 13 Jun 28 Jul 13 Jul 28 Aug 12 Aug 27 Sept 11 Sept 26 Figure 5. Flow rates for Ugjoktok River indicating mean, minimum and maximum flows for , with a comparison to the flow rates in