The Department of Fisheries and Oceans reversed its decision to end a crucial Atlantic salmon program on the St. John River. Earlier this year, the federal government announced plans to close the Mactaquac Biodiversity Facility and terminate its smolt to adult supplementation program. Following months of advocacy from First Nations and conservation groups, the facility will remain open. You can read the original report from CBC News.

A Fighting Chance for the Species

The Tobique First Nation relies on this program to keep the outer Bay of Fundy Atlantic salmon population alive. Workers collect young salmon at the Tobique dam and transport them past three hydroelectric dams to the Mactaquac facility. The facility raises the fish and eventually releases them back into the river system to reproduce.

The St. John River system supported tens of thousands of salmon in the 1980s. Today, only a few hundred return to the Mactaquac Dam each year.

Leonard Nicholas directs the fishery strategy at Tobique First Nation. He spent months fighting the planned closure.

“Once I heard the decision, obviously, I was relieved because, you know, it means that we still have a fighting chance to bring the population back in our rivers,” Nicholas said.

Tobique First Nation Chief Ross Perley echoed this relief.

“Shutting down the program, for us, it would have been devastating not only to our heritage, but to the future of the species and that is why we advocated hard,” Perley said.

New Brunswick Power Proposes a New Approach

While the extension offers immediate relief, stakeholders want a permanent solution. New Brunswick Power proposed a new program that involves raising young salmon in freshwater ocean cages instead of the Mactaquac facility.

Anthony Bielecki manages environment and First Nations consultation for the utility company. He hopes the federal government supports this new direction.

“If we go back to the 1968 agreement there was a cost sharing arrangement there. And we expect there will be a cost sharing arrangement in the future,” Bielecki said.

The current federal program costs approximately 2.2 million dollars per year. The utility company expects its proposed alternative to cost a similar amount.

Department spokesperson Christine Lyons confirmed that discussions with the Wolastoqey Nation and the utility company remain ongoing.

“DFO, the Wolastoqey Nation, and New Brunswick Power continue to work together on the future of supplementation work and long term fish passage,” Lyons said. She added that the department cannot confirm a timeline or potential support for the new proposal yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Mactaquac Biodiversity Facility?

The Mactaquac Biodiversity Facility is a federal operation located on the St. John River. It raises Atlantic salmon to help supplement the dwindling wild population.

Why did the government plan to close the facility?

The government initially planned to end the smolt to adult supplementation program this fall to shift resources. They reversed this decision after strong opposition from First Nations and conservation groups.

How many salmon return to the St. John River now?

Only a few hundred Atlantic salmon return to the Mactaquac Dam annually. This is a massive drop from the tens of thousands that returned in the 1980s.

What is the alternative proposed by the utility company?

New Brunswick Power proposed raising young salmon in freshwater ocean cages instead of using the Mactaquac facility. This proposal is currently under discussion with federal officials and the Wolastoqey Nation.