Low Atlantic salmon population levels led the Quebec Ministry of the Environment, Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks (MELCC) to announce new regulations on Wednesday that will come into effect on July 25. The affected rivers are located in the Bas-Saint-Laurent, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Capitale-Nationale, Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine and Côte-Nord regions.
Only two salmon can now be caught and released daily instead of three. In addition, the daily maximum number of salmon caught and kept is being reduced in many rivers in the affected regions.
Persons who fish without the proper permit are liable to a fine of $500 to $1,500 for a first offence, and a fine of $1,500 to $4,500 for a repeat offence.
In Quebec, salmon fishing is subject to strict regulations. Fishermen are required to obtain a specific permit, the tagging and registration of salmon caught is mandatory and it is never permitted to catch and keep more than four salmon in a single year. Catches that exceed this limit must be returned to the water.
The regulations include a distinction between small salmon (between 30 cm and 63 cm) and large salmon (over 63 cm). Currently, large salmon caught must be released back into the water in all these regions, because these specimens are often females and play a more important role in the reproduction of the species.
These new measures will remain in effect until the end of the salmon fishing season, which ends on August 31, 2024 in most regions. People who wish to go salmon fishing are therefore invited by the MELCC to find out about the regulations in force in the river where they plan to go.
Low population levels
The MELCC noted “Atlantic salmon runs well below average” in most rivers in these regions. The measures taken by Quebec “aim to promote the sustainability of these salmon populations.”
Atlantic salmon populations experienced a general decline in Quebec rivers during the 1990s. Although commercial salmon fishing has been completely banned since 2000, population levels have still not returned to their 1980s levels, according to MELCC data.
Québec is able to assess the returns in nearly 40 salmon rivers thanks to a real-time monitoring system. It is based on this data that the MELCC updates its regulatory guidelines each year, at the beginning of the season and mid-season. Normally, the capture of large salmon is prohibited at the beginning of the season, but it can be authorized mid-season if the population level allows it.