The Department of Fisheries and Oceans reversed its decision to close the Mactaquac Biodiversity Facility. This move keeps the smolt to adult Atlantic salmon supplementation program alive for the Saint John River system. If you follow local wildlife conservation, you know this decision directly impacts the survival of a species deeply tied to our region.

First Nations Lead the Fight

The federal government originally announced in January it planned to end the program this fall. First Nations leaders spent months fighting the closure. They believe the facility remains essential to keeping the outer Bay of Fundy Atlantic salmon population alive.

Leonard Nicholas serves as the fishery strategy director at Tobique First Nation. His team collects smolts at the Tobique dam. They truck these young fish past three hydroelectric dams to the biodiversity facility. Workers raise the fish there and release them back into the river system years later to reproduce.

“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 told CBC News.

Tobique First Nation Chief Ross Perley echoed this relief. He noted the closure threatened both the species and Indigenous heritage.

“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.

A Drastic Population Decline

The Saint John River system supported tens of thousands of salmon as recently as the 1980s. Today, only a few hundred return to the Mactaquac Dam annually. This steep decline makes human intervention necessary for the survival of the species.

Because the program was scheduled to end, the government stopped taking the smolts Nicholas collected this spring. His team gathered around 300 smolts during the spring run. Nicholas expressed disappointment that these specific fish will not grow and reproduce in the facility.

Looking for a Permanent Solution

While the extension offers immediate relief, leaders want a permanent solution. Nicholas prefers building a dedicated facility within his own community.

NB Power also proposed an alternative. Anthony Bielecki manages environment and First Nations consultation for the utility. He wants to create a similar program alongside First Nations. This new approach raises smolts in fresh water ocean cages instead of inside the Mactaquac facility.

Bielecki expects a cost sharing arrangement similar to the original 1968 agreement between the federal government and NB Power. The current Mactaquac facility costs approximately 2.2 million dollars per year to operate.

Department of Fisheries and Oceans spokesperson Christine Lyons confirmed the extension follows discussions with the Wolastoqey Nation and conservation partners. She noted the government continues to work with NB Power and the Wolastoqey Nation on the future of the program.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Mactaquac Biodiversity Facility?

It is a government operated facility located below the Mactaquac Dam. Workers raise young Atlantic salmon there until they reach adulthood, then release them back into the Saint John River to reproduce.

Why did the government reverse its decision?

First Nations leaders and conservation groups strongly opposed the closure. They argued ending the program guarantees the extinction of the outer Bay of Fundy Atlantic salmon in the river system.

What happens next for the salmon program?

The facility remains open for now. The government, NB Power, and the Wolastoqey Nation continue to discuss permanent solutions, including a proposal to raise the fish in ocean cages.