October was a whirlwind of a month! The MSA field crew has been very busy with the beaver dam management program and broodstock collection. Beaver dams are known barriers to adult Atlantic salmon migrating upstream to spawn, blocking access to habitat in the upper reaches of brooks and streams. Beavers can repair active dams within a 24-hour time frame, which means the notching or removal of the dams must be correctly timed with the upstream migrations of the salmon so as to not waste time and resources. Over 20 dams were notched this year in multiple rivers in the Miramichi watershed. Broodstock collection happened from the last week of September to the end of October. We would like to thank all the students and volunteers that came out to help. Spawning has begun at the Miramichi Salmon Conservation Center (MSCC) and will continue until all the salmon and trout have been spawned. The eggs will then overwinter at the hatchery until the spring, when they are released as first feeding fry into their rivers of origin.

If you have any questions about the MSA Conservation Programs please contact MSA Biologist Kelsey Mcgee at kelsey@miramichisalmon.ca.