If you spend time along the Saint John River system in the spring, you will notice a massive change in the water. Millions of gaspereau are successfully migrating past the Mactaquac Dam to spawn. This surge is the direct result of a quiet policy shift by the federal government.

The Policy Shift

For decades, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans capped the number of gaspereau transported above the dam at one million fish per year. Officials considered any fish beyond that number a surplus and auctioned them off to commercial bidders. According to a recent report by CBC News, the government ended these surplus contracts in 2020. Now, crews transport as many gaspereau as possible over the dam.

The results are striking. In the first year of the change, 2.4 million fish made it past the dam. Last year, that number skyrocketed to over 4.1 million.

Local Impact

Gaspereau serve as a keystone species in New Brunswick. They bring vital nutrients inland from the ocean and feed local wildlife like eagles, otters, and bears. Wayne Baker, known locally as the Gaspereau Man, has fished the Oromocto River for over 70 years. He tracks the population daily and welcomes the increase.

“I think that is great,” Baker told CBC News.

Commercial fishermen also rely heavily on the species. Mathieu Cormier harvests hundreds of thousands of gaspereau each season, primarily for lobster bait and international food exports. He views the uncapped transport as a positive step, provided it does not harm the downriver population.

The Future of Fish Passage

While the trap and truck system moves fish upstream, locals want a permanent solution. Both Baker and Cormier advocate for a dedicated fish ladder at the Mactaquac Dam. Cormier points out that while trucking gets fish upriver, many die passing through the dam turbines on their way back to the ocean.

“It is not just gaspereau,” Cormier said. “It is any kind of fish, like lamprey eels, or bass or salmon or whatever. They got to go through the turbine. You got to go through somewhere. So I am pretty sure it kills quite a bit.”

NB Power will take the current trap and truck system offline for up to four years to build a modernized version. The temporary measures for fish passage during this construction period are currently unknown.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are gaspereau?

Gaspereau is a collective term for two similar fish species known as alewives and blueback herring. They are a keystone species in New Brunswick rivers.

Why are more fish getting past the Mactaquac Dam?

In 2020, the federal government stopped auctioning off surplus fish and began transporting as many gaspereau as possible over the dam.

How do the fish get over the dam?

Crews currently use a trap and truck system to physically move the fish upstream. NB Power will modernize this system in the coming years.