The wild atlantic salmon is a tremendously important species to New Brunswick.
That word from Minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Fisheries, Rick Doucet, after New Brunswick’s first wild salmon conservation site was designated near Grand Manan.
“The fact is, New Brunswick is recognized internationally as a salmon fishing destination, with recreational fishing spurring GDP value of $39.8 million dollars annually, and get this, a $54.7 in total spending.”
Doucet says recreational salmon angling alone, on the Mirimichi, contributes $16 million to the GDP, and creates 637 full time jobs.
The wild atlantic salmon is considered endangered, and is protected under the Species At Risk act. Doucet says the wild salmon population in the inner Bay of Fundy was once 40,000. In 2000, that number dropped to 250.
