Return Of Atlantic Salmon Has Benefits That Ripple Throughout River Ecosystems
Over the last 10 years, Fundy Salmon Recovery (FSR) has reared and released thousands of adult endangered Atlantic salmon into Fundy National Park’s rivers and the Petitcodiac River. The organization’s work has resulted in larger salmon runs and the creation of more dynamic ecosystems and healthier fish and animal populations.
Dr. Kurt Samways, the Parks Canada Research Chair in Aquatic Restoration at UNB Saint John, says there has been a steady increase in juvenile salmon and growing numbers of repeat spawning adult salmon to rivers where FSR has projects.
“We are seeing increases in productivity in the rivers at various organism levels,” said Samways, adding that they are also seeing more occurrences of birds of prey and aquatic predators, like mink, in the rivers.
“We’re starting to see those other ecological benefits for the other animals that have used or fed on salmon.”
Mature salmon bring with them nutrients that help rivers maintain high levels of productivity, making them a keystone species, creating a healthier river ecosystem, says John Whitelaw, Parks Canada Species-At-Risk Ecologist.
“The adult salmon that are being released are spawning in our rivers and surviving at an impressive rate out in the marine environment, and then returning back again to us in future years,” says Whitelaw.
From their biofilm providing food for the river ecosystem food web to the returning salmon providing marine nutrients, to passing on their genes to their spawn, the presence and impact of Atlantic salmon on their river ecosystems are undeniable.
“What we are seeing is that the presence of these adults in our rivers, either from our releases or from natural returns, is really increasing the aquatic ecosystem productivity that would not exist without salmon,” says Whitelaw.
He added that in 2021 they had their highest numbers of naturally produced smolt in the 20 years of counting smolts and the largest return of adult salmon in 32 years, both directly attributed to Fundy Salmon Recovery.
An estimated 114 adult salmon naturally returned to Fundy National Park, while at Fort Folly Habitat there were 35 adult salmon who returned to the Petitcodiac River.
Biologists collect juvenile wild Atlantic salmon from their native rivers of Fundy National Park and the Petitcodiac watershed, raised in the Cooke Aquaculture Marine Conservation Farm to be subsequently released back to their native rivers as mature adults to spawn naturally.
Through the preservation efforts of Fundy Salmon Recovery, Atlantic salmon have shown they are integral to the health of dynamic ecosystems.
“Through Parks Canada’s work and current research, we’re seeing increased ecosystem productivity generated by the renewed presence of the salmon in our rivers,” says Whitelaw.
This story is sponsored by Cooke Aquaculture.