Mr. Francis said smolt survival may indeed be up.
“We’re assuming a lot of the smolt that went out last year are surviving, and therefore we’re having a bigger return. Maybe that’s because of environmental conditions.”
Mr. Holwell said the results so far might also indicate the success of the salmon closure.
Within The Beacon’s readership area, he said a number of nets have been found on mainland rivers.
“In some cases, I think they were probably putting the nets out when our guardians were coming along. It seems like there was more than just the nets left there. Some paraphernalia, like the bag the net was in, and in one case some clothing was left. I’d say our guardians surprised them.”
He said a number of patrols with the River Watch program have been carried out along Ragged Harbour River, Jonathan’s Pond, and Gander River.
Mr. Francis said the increase in enforcement on the rivers and the presence of fishery guardians and officers has reduced poaching – an activity that threatens the salmon population.
“I know of individuals who are well-known poachers who are not poaching currently, and I think that certainly helps more salmon survive.”
An increased presence of salmon on the Gander River will certainly please opponents to proposed changes regarding the river’s classification.
Under one recommendation, the river would be reclassified from a Class I to a Class II river, meaning anglers could catch four fish in a season instead of six.
The other proposal would eliminate fall fishery on the Gander River, which takes place from Sept. 7 to Oct. 7. It is the only such fall salmon fishery in the province that allows anglers to retain fish.
“Nobody of the public agreed with that,” said Mr. Francis.
As far as water quality goes, he said the Gander River is looking better than recent years, and Mr. Francis attributes that to the new wastewater treatment plant serving Glenwood and Appleton.
“The environment which the salmon are in is more suitable, and salmon are more active, cleaner looking, and livelier, because they’re in a better environment. That’s another contributor to the survival of the salmon.”
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