The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) today, July 19, announced that all salmon rivers on the island part of the province will be closed to retention angling for the remainder of the season due to low counts following an in-season stock review.
The announcement comes on the tail of the recommendation being made by DFO science on Wednesday.
Catch and release angling will continue to be permitted but once water temperatures exceed 18 C, rivers will close to all angling.
Catch and release limits remain at three fish per day for all rivers in Newfoundland and Labrador. Retention of salmon on non-scheduled waters is not permitted.
In addition, an in-season review for Labrador is scheduled for July 24 with a management announcement to follow it.
DFO research scientist Geoff Veinott said Wednesday that continuing declines were being experienced in rivers all over the island.
“The declines in 2016 and 2017 really, really surprised us, and it was something we had not seen before,” he said.
