Inner Bay of Fundy Kelts

The Inner Bay of Fundy (iBoF) population of Atlantic salmon is the only Designatable Unit listed as endangered under the Canadian Species at Risk Act. This population is genotypically distinct and unlike most salmon, is characterized by localized migrations within the inner bay instead of migrating to the Labrador Sea and beyond. The Coldbrook Biodiversity Center Live Gene Bank hatchery currently maintains this population by supplementing iBoF rivers that no longer produce wild salmon.

Previous assessments of this stock have indicated high predation mortality, suggesting poor marine survival. In this study, we will work closely with the Coldbrook Center to tag and track Stewiacke River Atlantic Salmon (post-spawned) kelts to investigate marine survival, as well as habitat use and migration patterns. We will also tag smolts in the Debert River that were released from Coldbrook to rear in this river that forms part of the historic distribution.

Kelts will be tagged with 69 kHz V13T and 180 kHz V9 tags in the spring and fall of 2024 and 2025 and will be tracked with the extensive array of receivers deployed from the Minas Basin out to the Gulf of Maine. Smolts will be tagged with 6mm predation tags and ID tags following capture by fyke net in the Debert River. These data will help us answer questions about whether iBoF salmon remain in the inner bay, key spatial areas used, how long they remain at sea, and predation mortality.