Publication Abstract

A perspective on the marine survival of the Atlantic salmon

A perspective on the marine survival of the Atlantic salmon

E.C.E. Potter and W.C. Crozier

Assessments of the pre-fishery abundance of Atlantic salmon have shown a general decline in all stock components from both North America and Europe in recent years. The patterns of decline in the North East Atlantic are broadly consistent with the changes in marine survival observed for a small number of monitored stocks, although there has been clear variation between different rivers. Most of these monitored stocks showed a drop in the proportion of smolts surviving to return as one-sea-winter salmon for the 1989 smolt year class, but while returns rates have remained low for some stocks, they have increased again for others. Return rates for these stocks as two-sea-winter salmon have generally shown a steadier downward trend over the past two decades. Examination of the full life cycle of the River Bush salmon stock reveals that although factors operating in the sea may have real effects on stock abundance, there may be greater scope for stocks to be affected by changes in survival in freshwater.

References:

E.C.E. Potter and W.C. Crozier, 1999. A perspective on the marine survival of the Atlantic salmon. pp19-36, In: (Mills, D (Ed.)). The Ocean Life of Atlantic Salmon: Environmental and Biological Factors influencing survival. Oxford: Fishing News Books

E.C.E. Potter* and W.C. Crozier

pp19-36, In: (Mills, D (Ed.)). The Ocean Life of Atlantic Salmon: Environmental and Biological Factors influencing survival. Oxford: Fishing News Books