Moncton, NB – March 20, 2014 – Fisheries and Oceans Canada wishes to inform the public of important changes in the management of Atlantic salmon recreational angling in New Brunswick.

The management changes are the following:

• The expansion of the catch and release measures on the Northwest Miramichi River system;
  From June 1 until July 31, 2014, catch and release will be mandatory in the Northwest Miramichi River system and its tributaries upstream from the Red Bank Bridge on Route 425.
  For the rest of the season, the following waters will remain catch and release:
  • Portions of Little Southwest Miramichi and its tributaries upstream from Catamaran Brook;
  • The portion of Northwest Miramichi River and its tributaries upstream from Little River;
  • The portion of both the north and south branches of the Big Sevogle River and their tributaries upstream from but not including Square Forks.
• The yearly fishing quota for grilse will be reduced from eight to four in the Atlantic salmon recreational fishery (reduction of tags);
• The daily catch and retain quota for grilse will be reduced from two to one in the Salmon Fishing Area (SFA) 15. SFA 15 comprises the area from Restigouche River up to, but excluding the Tabusintac River. The measure does not apply to boundary waters next to the Province of Quebec.
• The Nigadoo River, from the bridge on Route 134 upstream to and including Haché Pool will be fly only waters beginning on July 15 until the end of the angling season;
• The Saint John River, 100m upstream and 100m downstream from the mouth of Muniac Stream, and 350m upstream from its confluence with the Saint John River will be closed to all angling after July 1.

The management measures announced today will help with the efforts of achieving conservation objectives for Atlantic salmon in New Brunswick.

To report any suspicious fishing activity, please contact the nearest Fisheries and Oceans Canada office or to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

For more information on this fishery, please contact:

Pierre Bélanger Senior Advisor, Recreational Fisheries Fisheries and Oceans Canada Moncton, NB (506) 851-2002