Since 1953, the Miramichi Salmon Association (MSA) has worked toward the preservation and enhancement of Atlantic salmon on the Miramichi River. With strength in numbers, the MSA continues to build its membership to support our conservation efforts. We encourage you, if not already a member, to please join us.

Vol. 69 April 2024

Dear MSA Members,

As we enter into the heart of spring, I am happy to bring you updates on several important fronts within our organization.

First and foremost, mark your calendars for our Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Icebreaker Dinner, scheduled for May 4th in Boiestown. This fun event is a fantastic opportunity for us to come together as a community, celebrate our achievements, and set the course for the future. Your presence and participation are crucial as we chart the path forward for the Miramichi Salmon Association.

I'm pleased to announce the upcoming MSA Moncton

Mixer event, to be held at the Canvas Hotel in Moncton on the 23rd of May. This gathering will be a delightful evening filled with camaraderie and

culinary delights, including a sumptuous smoked salmon appetizer and other

delicious treats. It's a perfect chance for us to network, unwind, and enjoy

the company of fellow enthusiasts in a relaxed setting.

Also this month, the MSA is pleased to introduce the Bud Bird Award in Salmon Conservation. The Bud Bird Award in Salmon Conservation stands as the pinnacle of recognition within the Miramichi Salmon Association (MSA). Each year, this prestigious award will be bestowed upon an individual, group, organization, or business deemed deserving, in acknowledgment of their unwavering dedication and tangible contributions to the preservation of the Atlantic salmon and the protection of the environmental health of the Miramichi River watershed. To nominate a candidate, please visit the MSA website by clicking here.

As outlined below in detail, we have been busy at the hatchery taking care of our salmon eggs, which have started to "eye" before turning into first feeding fry. We are keen to release these fry into the selected sites along the river. In addition, MSA Biologist Lyndsay Jay-Keating has been busy preparing for the upcoming field season. With any luck, we will hear soon about the return of our summer students

On the conservation front, I'm pleased to report, after careful deliberation, the Warm Water Protocol Committee (WWPC) has decided to maintain the current temperature threshold of 20 degrees Celsius for the 2024 fishing season. This warm water protocol underscores our commitment to preserving the health and vitality of Atlantic salmon while ensuring sustainable practices for future generations of anglers.

Lastly, I am encouraged by the outcomes of our recent Miramichi

Watershed Management Committee Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) meeting. It was encouraging to witness the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) express a willingness to expedite our field season permitting. Furthermore, discussions surrounding the possibility of allowing us to stock our Ludlow fry and collaborating on a stocking plan for the NW Miramichi in partnership with First Nations are promising steps forward in our ongoing efforts to enhance Atlantic salmon populations in the Miramichi watershed.

In conclusion, these developments underscore the strength of our

collective efforts and the enduring passion we share for the preservation and

stewardship of the Miramichi River. I look forward to seeing you all at the

upcoming events and continuing our journey together towards a sustainable and vibrant future for salmon conservation.

William "Butch" Dalton

MSA President

Get ready to celebrate in style with Mavis O'Donnell and friends at the 27th MSA IceBreaker dinner, happening on May 4th at the NB Woodsman's Museum! This year, we're thrilled to recognize the remarkable Alden MacKay from Porter Cove, NB, whose vibrant spirit and talent lit up the Miramichi River community. Alden was more than a songwriter; he was a storyteller extraordinaire and a master river guide, enchanting all with his tales and expertise. From the infectious tunes like "Fiddleheads and Gaspereau" to the timeless charm of "You Should Have Been Here Last Week," Alden's songs embody the heart and soul of our region. In 2008, his legendary status was solidified with induction into the Atlantic Salmon Museum Hall of Fame. Join us as we raise our glasses high and toast to Alden's indelible mark on our cultural tapestry, ensuring his legacy lives on with every melody and memory shared among friends old and new. It's a night not to be missed!

We are pleased to announce the upcoming Annual General Meeting of the Miramichi Salmon Association. The meeting will be held at the UMRC building on May 4th starting at approximately 12:30 pm.

A light lunch will be provided for all attendees. We encourage everyone to participate, as we have several important MSA issues to discuss. Your presence and input are invaluable as we chart the course for the association's future endeavors.

Please mark your calendars and make every effort to attend. Your involvement is crucial to the success and vitality of the MSA.

Join us for an fun evening at the MSA Moncton Mixer, hosted at the Canvas Hotel at 55 Queen St, Moncton, NB on May 23rd! We're excited to celebrate and honour the 25th anniversary of the Dieppe Fly Tying Club, a milestone that speaks volumes about their dedication and passion for the art of fly tying. The event kicks off at 5:30 pm and promises an array of delights, including a silent auction and an exciting raffle that will keep the energy high throughout the night. Attendees will hear an update from MSA President Butch Dalton, offering insights into the association's latest initiatives and achievements. Guests will be treated to a sumptuous smoked salmon reception and a selection of mouthwatering appetizers, creating the perfect backdrop for mingling, networking, and forging new connections within the angling community. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of an evening filled with camaraderie, celebration, and shared passion for Atlantic salmon. Tickets are $50 per person - reserve/purchase your tickets today by clicking the link below or by calling the MSA office at 506-622-4000.

First Cast is an annual weekend fly fishing program hosted by the Miramichi Salmon Association. This program is an introduction to fly fishing with no age limit for participants. First Cast is an excellent chance for a “relatively experienced” fisherman to bring along someone who is new to the sport and, with the help of volunteers from the MSA, participate in a two-day mentoring experience guaranteed to be the start of a lifetime of fly fishing and a new appreciation for our natural environment. Whether you have a child or grandchild that you’ve always wanted to share your passion for the sport with, or if you’ve always wanted to learn about fly fishing and never had the opportunity, we encourage you to take part! Registration will begin mid-April so please check the MSA website in the coming weeks for more details.

The dam at the back of the MSCC is typically frozen over for most of the winter, but the water has been running high with all the rain and warm temperatures. The brook water supply lines that support our egg incubation infrastructure have filters on them to help keep particulates away from the salmon eggs and fry. These filters need to be cleaned daily by hatchery staff who have had their work cut out for them!

Our salmon eggs are well-eyed now and inventory estimates for the different stocks at our facility have begun. The eggs are moved into incubation boxes with artificial substrate mats. The sac-fry will hatch from the eggs and burrow down into the mats where they will spend a few months absorbing their yolk sac (nutrition source). When water temperatures approach 10°C the fry will be looking to feed and will be released from the incubators into our troughs. They are fed for a couple of weeks as preparations are made to stock them back into their rivers of origin in early June.

Our Grow-Out Building currently houses 3-year classes of salmon, collected as part of our Smolt-to-Adult Supplementation (SAS) fry stocking efforts. Smolts collected from the Dungarvon River (as part of the experimental fry stocking program), and smolts collected from the Southwest Miramichi River (intended for a supplementation program) are being cared for in large tanks with automatic feeders and routine anti-fungal treatments as part of daily monitoring and good fish husbandry practices. Fish in the 2021 and 2022 groups will be spawned in the fall of 2024 to produce fry for stocking in 2025.

We are supporting the Fish Friends program again this year, with a local volunteer coordinating egg pick up and drop off to the schools. We supply a small number of eggs to each school and the students get to learn about the biology of Atlantic salmon and come visit the MSCC for a tour in May.

2024 Field Program Summary

Smolt Estimate: As spring approaches the Miramichi, we prepare for our annual smolt estimates. To improve accuracy, the MSA will again place two smolt wheels on the Northwest Miramichi River. The required cables and gear are ready, and we have started with the smolt wheel maintenance. Depending on the ice movement, our goal is to have the wheels in the river by the beginning of May.

Smolt Tracking: The MSA has again teamed up with the Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) to conduct our annual smolt tracking project. Starting in the spring, the team will tag smolts on the Miramichi River using Vemco acoustic transmitters. The ASF will place transmitters in smolts from the Northwest Miramichi and the Southwest Miramichi at Rocky Brook. By tracking the movement of the smolts as they exit the river and estuary and travel into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, we can determine the percentage of smolts that survive and locate any areas of high mortality.

Smolt Collection: The MSA is collaborating with Dr. Tommi Linnansaari at UNB on a long-term fry stocking research program. The program aims to enhance the salmon population and determine the best method to stock fry.

Fry Stocking: Fry stocking will commence in June of 2023 and will be a busy season focusing on locations along the Southwest Miramichi River (Cains and Juniper).

Electrofishing: The Miramichi Salmon Association (MSA) conducts an electrofishing program every year to evaluate the presence of juvenile Atlantic salmon in the headwater regions of the Miramichi River watershed. As usual, we will conduct our Juvenile Atlantic Salmon Assessment program in 2024 during the latter part of the summer.

Cold Water Pool Restoration: The North Shore Micmac Tribal Council (NSMTC) will collaborate with the MSA and other partners to conduct this year's cold-water pool restoration projects on the Miramichi River. The MSA team will also conduct snorkeling surveys, record water temperature data, and assess past cold water pool restoration sites for potential debris clearance. Additionally, Dr. Antoin O'Sullivan is planning an innovative cold water restoration project.

Broodstock Collection: The Miramichi Salmon Association and its members collect adult spawning salmon, also known as broodstock, from the river. These broodstock are then taken to the Miramichi Salmon Conservation Centre for spawning. The eggs are incubated there over winter and released back into the rivers in June as first feeding fry. These fry are strategically placed where juvenile densities are low. The collection of salmon broodstock is scheduled for this coming fall on the Southwest Miramichi River.

Beaver Dam Management: Our beaver dam management program is scheduled for fall 2024. We have planned to assess potential sites early and be ready for the project to begin during the critical spawning times. If you know of any beaver dams causing an obstruction to fish passage, please share any information you may have with us. Also, if you are interested in volunteering for this program, please let us know!

Purchase a ticket for a chance to win:

4 rods for Two Days at Rocky Bend from August 5th to August 7th.

Tickets are $50 each and limited to 200 tickets!

Includes guide, meals, and accommodations!

The Brian Smith Memorial Photo Contest is an opportunity for photographers to showcase their best shots of the Miramichi River and its surroundings. This is an annual event that runs from April 15th until October 15th. The MSA invites participants to submit their best photos capturing the beauty and diversity of the Miramichi watershed. This photo contest is open to all amateur photographers. Contest categories include Miramichi People, Angling, Miramichi Scenes, and Kids.

Our 2024 Brian Smith Memorial Photo Contest prize package is sponsored by:

Bates Custom Laminating and Framing

1st Place - $250

2nd Place - $150

3rd Place - $75

4th Place - $25

MSA Annual General Meeting

May 4th



27th Annual IceBreaker Dinner

May 4th

MSA Moncton Mixer

May 23rd

MSA First Cast

June 22nd-23rd

REMINDER TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP

If you are not already receiving The Leaper automatically:

Miramichi Salmon Association

485 Route 420

South Esk NB E1V 4L9

506-622-4000

admin@miramichisalmon.ca

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