Below are the texts of a couple of letters sent to the Hon Keith Ashfield Minister of Natural Resources in the Past Government
NEW BRUNSWICK SALMON COUNCIL INC.
P. O. Box 533, Station A
Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5A6
April 30, 2004
Hon. Keith Ashfield, Minister
Department of Natural Resources
Province of New Brunswick
Post Office Box 6000,
Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1
Dear Minister;
During recent meetings of the New Brunswick Salmon Council Inc. (NBSC) in Fredericton, concern was expressed with respect to the decision of your government to decommission the Provincial hatchery at Flowers Cove.
I must express our surprise not only in learning the only trout rearing facility in New Brunswick operated by the government would be shut down effective May 07th 2004, but also that the back up program for the genetic brood stock rearing program for the Big Salmon River strain of Atlantic salmon would also be affected. You may, or may not be aware the Big Salmon stocks are among the most rare and unique strains of inner Bay of Fundy salmon stocks and are currently listed under the Species At Risk Act.
The landlock salmon program developed and carried out from the Flowers Cove facility is one of the most successful introductions of recreational fish stocks in New Brunswick’s history, not to mention the important role this facility has played in the re-introduction of several trout stocks from different watercourses around the Province that had nearly reached their demise as a result of several factors.
Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of this closure is the fact that for many years now your Department has been working closely with various “user” and conservation groups throughout the Province. Fish & Wildlife Branch can attribute much of their success and reputation with these various organizations on two things, the good people working very hard to get a difficult job done given the circumstances they have to work under and most importantly the consultative process in resource related issues.
Mr. Minister, there was absolutely no consultation in the decision to close the Flowers Cove facility and that is unacceptable when it relates to an economic spin off to this resource of $30,000,000 per year by 1996 figures and approximately 65,000 persons using the recreational trout resource in New Brunswick each year!
Minister, in light of this recent decision, NBSC would ask your reconsideration in this matter until such a time that a full consultative process has taken place with the various resource users in New Brunswick. It may well be that other options such as utilization of the Miramichi Conservation Centre Hatchery at South Esk and the Charlo Salmonid Enhancement Centre at Charlo may be able to work with your government to raise fish and enhance this important recreational sector with a financial contribution from your government on an annual basis. It is our view, an arrangement such as this may be not only a solution to enhancing the trout resources but may prove beneficial for both of these facilities and your government.
The end result would provide a significant boost to the overall economy of New Brunswick not to say the least for the recreational benefits to virtually all age sectors from the young child who goes trout fishing for the first time as his or her parents and their parents etc. have done before them.
It’s quite an experience Mr. Minister, to be able to provide the privilege not to mention the excitement to the next generation of being a beneficiary of a well managed recreational fishery resource. NBSC urges you and your Government to continue the tradition.
Sincerely,
Everett Deschenes, President
New Brunswick Salmon Council Inc.
cc: Ron Whitehead , NBWF
NBSC Affiliate Members
Hon. Bernard Lord
Mr. Shawn Graham
NEW BRUNSWICK SALMON COUNCIL INC.
P. O. Box 533, Station A
Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5A6
March 1, 2006
Hon. Keith Ashfield, Minister
Department of Natural Resources
Province of New Brunswick
Post Office Box 6000,
Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1
Dear Minister;
During recent meetings of the New Brunswick Salmon Council Inc. (NBSC) in Fredericton, concern was expressed with respect to invasive aquatic species in New Brunswick. We wish to take this opportunity to convey to you our position and thoughts in this regard.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada has stated the position that invasive species represent the second largest threat to bio-diversity in Canada (http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/communic/reports/aquaspec-espaqua/resp-rep_e.htm), after habitat loss. All that is required to gain a basic understanding of the dangers associated with invasive species is to review the well known effects of introducing Lamprey Eels and Zebra Mussels into the Great Lakes ecosystems.
In New Brunswick there are existing examples of invasive species being introduced and established, namely Smallmouth Bass, Chain Pickerel and Muskellunge, among other species. Primarily these species exist within the Saint John River watershed where indigenous species such as Atlantic Salmon and Brook Trout have suffered the greatest. For example, Maguadavic Lake was once a premier trout angling destination, currently it is a Smallmouth Bass angling hot spot. Brook trout are still angled in this lake but success rates are very low.
Muskellunge now inhabit a significant portion of the Saint John River and have been documented in the lower stretches of the Nashwaak River. While it is too early to predict the impacts of this ecosystem change on salmon and trout populations, it is difficult to imagine any positive impacts.
Mr. Minister, we recognize that historical introductions are difficult (if not impossible) to reverse. We can learn from these mistakes however and take appropriate precautions to prevent a repeat of these introductions and to ensure that all reasonable precautions to minimize the impacts of previous introductions. New Brunswicker’s are counting on your department to be diligent in preventing future introductions and mitigating the damage from previous ones.
As the aquaculture industry diversifies in the coming years and months it is imperative that species like Rainbow Trout are not permitted to be located in or near river systems where they are not indigenous, like the Restigouche for example. The monies expended in elimination of Chain Pickerel from Despres Lake in the Cains River Watershed in 2001 serve as a fine example of how an ounce of prevention can be worth a pound of cure. A similar eradication of Goldfish was done at Killarney Lake a number of years ago, resulting from people that dump their pet goldfish into the lake when they no longer want them.
While we understand that there are regulations in place to prevent the transportation of Muskellunge, Chain Pickerel and other invasive species we are concerned that enforcement of these regulations is lapse and public awareness is very low. Stiffer fines and mandatory signage in pet stores, as well as more specific warnings with respect to Muskellunge in the angling guide with the potential size of the fine, might be actions that could be implemented. We have recently become aware of a webpage “Muskies NB” where a group of well meaning sportsmen is lobbying the New Brunswick Government to change angling regulations in an attempt to sustain a Muskie fishery in New Brunswick (see http://www.muskiesnb.ca/INDEX.HTML). While it is our understanding that these individuals are lobbying for enhancement of the Muskie populations we wanted to ensure that your department is aware that not all anglers support the enhancement of a Muskie fishery. In fact we would suggest that the majority of informed New Brunswick anglers are concerned about this development in the Saint John River. Angling these existing Muskellunge should certainly be employed and enjoyed by New Brunswickers; however, transportation of live specimens should be thoroughly and actively discouraged. Imagine the effects of some of these fishes being transported above the Tobique Narrows Dam!
It’s quite an experience Mr. Minister, to be able to provide the privilege not to mention the excitement to the next generation of being a beneficiary of a well managed recreational fishery resource. NBSC is prepared to assist your department, in whatever capacity we are able, to preserve the proven and culturally significant fisheries in New Brunswick.
Thank you in advance for your attention to this very important issue.
Sincerely,
Gary Spencer,
Vice-President
New Brunswick Salmon Council Inc.
Cc: NBSC Affiliate Members
17-Oct-2008
Invasive Species Introduced into Miramichi Lake