Fishes of the Saint John River

T. Linnansaari, A. Curry, A. Chateauvert, M. Gautreau, G. Yamazaki

The data sources

Common name 1A 1B 2A 2B 2C 2D 2E 3A 3B 4A 4B 4C

3 spine stickleback Oa XO ZO Oa O O XO O XO

4 spine stickleback Y XO XO XO X

9 spine stickleback O XO O Oa O O O XO X X X

Alewife O O O XO XO XO XO O X

American eel O Oa XO XO XO XO XO XO X

Arctic char O

Atlantic menhaden O O

Atlantic salmon O O ZO O YO XO YO YO YO ZO Z

Atlantic silverside O O X

Atlantic sturgeon XO XO XO O

Atlantic tomcod YO O YO O X

Banded killifish a XO O XO O XO XO XO XO XO Y Z

Blacknose dace XO XO ZO Oa O O O YO YO ZO Z

Blacknose shiner Ob Ob O Ob O O XO XO Z

Blackspotted stickleback Z

Blueback herring O XO XO XO XO O X

Brook Stickleback Z

Brook trout OZa XO ZO ZO ZO ZO ZO ZOd ZO ZO Z

Brown bullhead Oa XO XO XO XO XO XO XO XO XO

Brown trout XO d Z

Burbot XO YO O Oa O O O XO O ZO

Central mudminnow Y Y

Chain pickerel O YO YO YO XO XO XO

Common shiner XO XO XO XO XO XO XO XO XO XO Z

Creek chub XO XO XO XO XO XO YO YO X ZO Z

Fallfish XO XO XO XO XO X XO XO XO

Fathead minnow a O Z a O O

Finescale dace 1 Oa Oa a O

Golden shiner Ob Ob O Ob XO XO XO XO XO XO Z

Lake chub 1 X X X a X X X X X

Lake trout O O O O ZO

Lake whitefish Oa XO O O O O O Od XO O O

Longnose sucker XO XO XO XO O O O O O XO

Mummichog Y X

Muskellunge Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

Northern redbelly dace 1 Oa Oa Z Oa O XO YO O Z

Pearl dace 1 Oa Oa O Oa O O YO O

Pumpkinseed sunfish Oa XO XO XO XO XO XO

Rainbow smelt Oa Oa O Oa ZO O O YO YO XO X X

Rainbow trout X Z ZO ZO OZ Z

Redbreast sunfish O O O YO YO

Round whitefish Oa YO O YO O

Sea lamprey O O O O O XO Z Z X X

Shad O O O O Od O O O

Shortnose stugeon XO XO XO O

Slimy sculpin XO XO ZO Oa O O O ZO ZO ZO

Smallmouth bass b X X X X XO XO XO XO XO

Striped bass O O c YO YO YO Y X

White hake O O X

White perch O O XO XO XO XO XO X

White sucker XO XO XO XO XO XO XO XO XO XO Z

Yellow perch Oa XO XO XO XO XO XO XO XO XO Z

Yellowtail flounder O

zPast 25 27 24 34 31 35 31 39 32 35 10 1

zPresent 25 26 18 27 16 19 24 36 31 31 6 26

O - Historic records (Meth 1973)

X - CRI's SJR Surveys

Y - CRI or DNR studies

Z - Known from tributaries; CRI or DNR studies

a - Maine DNR

b - Yoder et al. (2005)

c - rare captures in CRI studies

d - DFO captures at Mactaquac Dam Fishway

Range expansions

Grand Falls Fredericton R. Falls

M

G

S Grand Falls Fredericton R. Falls

M

G

S

Common name 1A 1B 2A 2B 2C 2D 2E 3A 3B 4A 4B 4C

3 spine stickleback Oa XO ZO Oa O O XO O XO

4 spine stickleback Y XO XO XO X

9 spine stickleback O XO O Oa O O O XO X X X

Alewife O O O XO XO XO XO O X

American eel O Oa XO XO XO XO XO XO X

Arctic char O

Atlantic menhaden O O

Atlantic salmon O O ZO O YO XO YO YO YO ZO Z

Atlantic silverside O O X

Atlantic sturgeon XO XO XO O

Atlantic tomcod YO O YO O X

Banded killifish a XO O XO O XO XO XO XO XO Y Z

Blacknose dace XO XO ZO Oa O O O YO YO ZO Z

Blacknose shiner Ob Ob O Ob O O XO XO Z

Blackspotted stickleback Z

Blueback herring O XO XO XO XO O X

Brook Stickleback Z

Brook trout OZa XO ZO ZO ZO ZO ZO ZOd ZO ZO Z

Brown bullhead Oa XO XO XO XO XO XO XO XO XO

Brown trout XO d Z

Burbot XO YO O Oa O O O XO O ZO

Central mudminnow Y Y

Chain pickerel O YO YO YO XO XO XO

Common shiner XO XO XO XO XO XO XO XO XO XO Z

Creek chub XO XO XO XO XO XO YO YO X ZO Z

Fallfish XO XO XO XO XO X XO XO XO

Fathead minnow a O Z a O O

Finescale dace 1 Oa Oa a O

Golden shiner Ob Ob O Ob XO XO XO XO XO XO Z

Lake chub 1 X X X a X X X X X

Lake trout O O O O ZO

Lake whitefish Oa XO O O O O O Od XO O O

Longnose sucker XO XO XO XO O O O O O XO

Mummichog Y X

Muskellunge Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

Northern redbelly dace 1 Oa Oa Z Oa O XO YO O Z

Pearl dace 1 Oa Oa O Oa O O YO O

Pumpkinseed sunfish Oa XO XO XO XO XO XO

Rainbow smelt Oa Oa O Oa ZO O O YO YO XO X X

Rainbow trout X Z ZO ZO OZ Z

Redbreast sunfish O O O YO YO

Round whitefish Oa YO O YO O

Sea lamprey O O O O O XO Z Z X X

Shad O O O O Od O O O

Shortnose stugeon XO XO XO O

Slimy sculpin XO XO ZO Oa O O O ZO ZO ZO

Smallmouth bass b X X X X XO XO XO XO XO

Striped bass O O c YO YO YO Y X

White hake O O X

White perch O O XO XO XO XO XO X

White sucker XO XO XO XO XO XO XO XO XO XO Z

Yellow perch Oa XO XO XO XO XO XO XO XO XO Z

Yellowtail flounder O

zPast 25 27 24 34 31 35 31 39 32 35 10 1

zPresent 25 26 18 27 16 19 24 36 31 31 6 26

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Mactaquac = “Hot Spot” for diversity

SJR = greatest natural diversity of freshwater fishes in eastern NA

54 species; 41 occur at Mactaquac

All photos courtesy of M. Gautreau (CRI)

Fish Community: Characteristics Species In-River Movement At Mactaquac Population Status Data source

Alewife River diadromous Mactaquac >1M DFOAmerican eel River diadromous Mactaquac ? ---

American shad River diadromous Mactaquac ? ---Atlantic salmon River diadromous Mactaquac <200 DFO

Atlantic sturgeon River diadromous Mactaquac 17,000 Acadian Caviar/UNB/DFOAtlantic tomcod River diadromous Mactaquac ? ---Blueback herring River diadromous Mactaquac >500,000 DFO

Sea lamprey River diadromous Mactaquac ? ---Shortnose stugeon River diadromous Mactaquac >5,000 DFO

Striped bass River diadromous Mactaquac ? ---Brook trout River migrations Mactaquac Presumed healthy DNR/UNB

Brown bullhead River migrations Mactaquac Presumed healthy DNR/UNBBrown trout River migrations Mactaquac ? ---

Burbot River migrations Mactaquac ? ---Lake whitefish River migrations Mactaquac ? ---Longnose sucker River migrations Mactaquac ? ---

Muskellunge River migrations Mactaquac ? ---Rainbow smelt River migrations Mactaquac ? ---

Rainbow trout River migrations Mactaquac ? ---White perch River migrations Mactaquac Presumed healthy DNR/UNB

White sucker River migrations Mactaquac Presumed healthy DNR/UNB3 Spine stickleback River resident Mactaquac ? ---

4 Spine stickleback River resident Mactaquac ? ---9 Spine stickleback River resident Mactaquac ? ---Banded killifish River resident Mactaquac ? ---

Blacknose dace River resident Mactaquac ? ---Blacknose shiner River resident Mactaquac ? ---

Chain pickerel River resident Mactaquac Presumed healthy DNR/UNBCommon shiner River resident Mactaquac Presumed healthy UNB

Creek chub River resident Mactaquac ? ---Fallfish River resident Mactaquac ? ---Fathead minnow River resident Mactaquac ? ---

Golden shiner River resident Mactaquac Presumed healthy UNBLake chub River resident Mactaquac ? ---

Northern redbelly River resident Mactaquac ? ---Pearl dace River resident Mactaquac ? ---

Pumpkinseed River resident Mactaquac ? ---Redbreast sunfish River resident Mactaquac Presumed healthy UNB

Slimy sculpin River resident Mactaquac Presumed healthy UNBSmallmouth bass River resident Mactaquac Presumed healthy DNR/UNBYellow perch River resident Mactaquac Presumed healthy UNB

Round whitefish River migrations --- --- ---Arctic char River resident --- --- ---

Blackspotted River resident --- --- ---Brook stickleback River resident --- --- ---

Central mudminnow River resident --- --- ---Finescale dace River resident --- --- ---

Lake trout River resident --- --- ---Atlantic menhaden Harbour --- --- --- ---Atlantic silverside Harbour --- --- --- ---

Mummichog Harbour --- --- --- ---White hake Harbour/Kennebecasis --- --- --- ---

Yellowtail flounder Harbour/Kennebecasis --- --- --- ---

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Fish Community at Mactaquac

31 freshwater resident species

11 species with known migrations

10 diadromous species

5 introduced species (invasive/exotic)

Smallmouth bass (1800’s, now “naturalized”)

Muskellunge (1970’s) & Chain pickerel (1800s)

Brown trout (1950’s or earlier)

Rainbow trout (1900s and escapees)

T. Linnansaari

Juvenile Muskie

(Fredericton) 2014

Brown trout

(DFO facility)

Rainbow trout

(DFO facility)

Smallmouth bass

(Mactaquac Headpond)

Priority Species for the Mactaquac Decision 21 species on the move

Species In-River Movement At Mactaquac Population Status Data source

Alewife River diadromous Mactaquac >1M DFOAmerican eel River diadromous Mactaquac ? ---

American shad River diadromous Mactaquac ? ---Atlantic salmon River diadromous Mactaquac <200 DFO

Atlantic sturgeon River diadromous Mactaquac 17,000 Acadian Caviar/UNB/DFOAtlantic tomcod River diadromous Mactaquac ? ---Blueback herring River diadromous Mactaquac >500,000 DFO

Sea lamprey River diadromous Mactaquac ? ---Shortnose stugeon River diadromous Mactaquac >5,000 DFO

Striped bass River diadromous Mactaquac ? ---Brook trout River migrations Mactaquac Presumed healthy DNR/UNB

Brown bullhead River migrations Mactaquac Presumed healthy DNR/UNBBrown trout River migrations Mactaquac ? ---

Burbot River migrations Mactaquac ? ---Lake whitefish River migrations Mactaquac ? ---Longnose sucker River migrations Mactaquac ? ---

Muskellunge River migrations Mactaquac ? ---Rainbow smelt River migrations Mactaquac ? ---

Rainbow trout River migrations Mactaquac ? ---White perch River migrations Mactaquac Presumed healthy DNR/UNB

White sucker River migrations Mactaquac Presumed healthy DNR/UNB3 Spine stickleback River resident Mactaquac ? ---

4 Spine stickleback River resident Mactaquac ? ---9 Spine stickleback River resident Mactaquac ? ---Banded killifish River resident Mactaquac ? ---

Blacknose dace River resident Mactaquac ? ---Blacknose shiner River resident Mactaquac ? ---

Chain pickerel River resident Mactaquac Presumed healthy DNR/UNBCommon shiner River resident Mactaquac Presumed healthy UNB

Creek chub River resident Mactaquac ? ---Fallfish River resident Mactaquac ? ---Fathead minnow River resident Mactaquac ? ---

Golden shiner River resident Mactaquac Presumed healthy UNBLake chub River resident Mactaquac ? ---

Northern redbelly River resident Mactaquac ? ---Pearl dace River resident Mactaquac ? ---

Pumpkinseed River resident Mactaquac ? ---Redbreast sunfish River resident Mactaquac Presumed healthy UNB

Slimy sculpin River resident Mactaquac Presumed healthy UNBSmallmouth bass River resident Mactaquac Presumed healthy DNR/UNBYellow perch River resident Mactaquac Presumed healthy UNB

Round whitefish River migrations --- --- ---Arctic char River resident --- --- ---

Blackspotted River resident --- --- ---Brook stickleback River resident --- --- ---

Central mudminnow River resident --- --- ---Finescale dace River resident --- --- ---

Lake trout River resident --- --- ---Atlantic menhaden Harbour --- --- --- ---Atlantic silverside Harbour --- --- --- ---

Mummichog Harbour --- --- --- ---White hake Harbour/Kennebecasis --- --- --- ---

Yellowtail flounder Harbour/Kennebecasis --- --- --- ---

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Dams and water control structures of SJR (>200)

Main Barriers: Grand Falls and generating stations

Grand Falls

Main Barriers: Tobique Narrows and Tinker

Tobique

Aroostook Photo: NB Power

Main Barriers: Beechwood

Beechwood

Photo: NB Power

Main Barriers: Mactaquac

Mactaquac Photo: NB Power

Mactaquac Generating Station Where the fish data comes from

Mactaquac Biodiversity Center

Fish Collection Trap

DFO Fish Trap

There are no population estimates for any species

1967 – “management” was Atlantic Salmon

The hatchery was established as part of compensation package

Initially, “smolt rearing and stocking” programme

Currently, a “captive reared” programme (smolt to adult)

Today…

Gaspereau transported upstream (by truck)

~800,000 Alewives annually

~200,000 Blueback Herring annually

All Atlantic salmon are transported upstream (or kept for brood-stock)

No other species are transferred (except by accident)

Rainbow trout, Muskellunge (Brown trout?) are euthanized

Remaining species – either not captured or, caught and released

Atlantic Salmon [Status = bleak upstream of Mactaquac]

Post: Mactaquac

Commercial fishery closed 1984

All fishery closed 1998

Pre: Mactaquac

20,000+

<200

“Endangered” (pending)

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

Alewife

Spawners

Harvest

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

Mill

ions o

f fish

Blueback herring

No F

ishery

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0 Species combined

Undere

stim

ate

Alewife & Blueback Herring (Gaspereau) [Status = >2,000,000]

Historically, up to Grand Falls

Transported upstream of Mactaquac

Significant increases in numbers

Supports commercial fishery

1.5M lifted upstream

~100 trapnets

~5 tractor trailer loads from

fish trap (DFO)

M. Gautreau Jessop 2001

Striped Bass [Status = unknown]

“Endangered”

There are no population estimates

Last confirmed spawning in 1975, Belleisle Creek (Dadswell)

3(?) genetic strains; adults tracked to NS and NE

MAES – juveniles present, overwintering adults, new genetics underway

Atlantic Sturgeon [Status = 17,000 in 2015]

“Threatened” (COSEWIC 2011)

Only population outside St. Lawrence River

Up to 3 m in length, 200 kg

Spawning locations in Saint John River = currently unknown

Population = 17,000 (2015)

Commercial fishery = 350 fish / year

DFO CSAS SAR 2013/022

“Special concern” (COSEWIC 2005)

Only found in SJR in Canada

Spawn “in downstream vicinity” of Mactaquac Dam

Population estimates:

18,000 in 1970’s (COSEWIC 2005)

~5,000 in 2007 (Li et al. 2007)

M. Gautreau

Shortnose Sturgeon [Status = +5,000]

American Eel [Status = unknown]

“Threatened” (COSEWIC 2012)

Historically Grand Falls and Tobique River

Beechwood Station 30,000’s 1970’s

Mactaquac Station Too numerous to be counted initially

Elvers (<10cm length) 1,000’s until 1980

Installation of 5th & 6th turbine 1979/80

No more elvers at Mactaquac until MAES studies in 2015…

cr: T. Linnansaari Glass eels (YOY?)

American Shad [Status = unknown]

M. Gautreau

Historically, up to Tobique River

Not transported (mortality issues)

Spawning upstream lost / lower considered stable

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

Est

ima

ted

sh

ad

nu

mb

ers

Year

Mactaquac

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

Est

ima

ted

sh

ad

nu

mb

ers

Beechwood

Beechwood Dam

Construction

* Data not necessarily reflective of abundance

Sea Lamprey [Status = unknown]

Historically, up to Tobique (1,000’s)

Beechwood - purposely eliminated 1950’s

Passed at Beechwood in 1960’s,

eliminated at Tobique-Narrows M. Gautreau

Some other data…

Species Status at Mactaquac 5 with estimates of status; 16 uncertain

Species In-River Movement At Mactaquac Population Status Data sourceAlewife River diadromous Mactaquac >1M DFOAmerican eel River diadromous Mactaquac ? ---American shad River diadromous Mactaquac ? ---Atlantic salmon River diadromous Mactaquac <200 DFOAtlantic sturgeon River diadromous Mactaquac 17,000 Acadian Caviar/UNB/DFOAtlantic tomcod River diadromous Mactaquac ? ---Blueback herring River diadromous Mactaquac >500,000 DFO

Sea lamprey River diadromous Mactaquac ? ---Shortnose stugeon River diadromous Mactaquac >5,000 DFOStriped bass River diadromous Mactaquac ? ---Brook trout River migrations Mactaquac Presumed healthy DNR/UNBBrown bullhead River migrations Mactaquac Presumed healthy DNR/UNBBrown trout River migrations Mactaquac ? ---Burbot River migrations Mactaquac ? ---Lake whitefish River migrations Mactaquac ? ---Longnose sucker River migrations Mactaquac ? ---Muskellunge River migrations Mactaquac ? ---Rainbow smelt River migrations Mactaquac ? ---Rainbow trout River migrations Mactaquac ? ---

White perch River migrations Mactaquac Presumed healthy DNR/UNBWhite sucker River migrations Mactaquac Presumed healthy DNR/UNB

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Option 3: Species on the Move

6 species with potential issues

Species In-River Movement At Mactaquac Population Status Data sourceAlewife River diadromous Mactaquac >1M DFOAmerican eel River diadromous Mactaquac ? ---American shad River diadromous Mactaquac ? ---Atlantic salmon River diadromous Mactaquac <200 DFOAtlantic sturgeon River diadromous Mactaquac 17,000 Acadian Caviar/UNB/DFOAtlantic tomcod River diadromous Mactaquac ? ---Blueback herring River diadromous Mactaquac >500,000 DFOSea lamprey River diadromous Mactaquac ? ---Shortnose stugeon River diadromous Mactaquac >5,000 DFOStriped bass River diadromous Mactaquac ? ---Brook trout River migrations Mactaquac Presumed healthy DNR/UNBBrown bullhead River migrations Mactaquac Presumed healthy DNR/UNBBrown trout River migrations Mactaquac ? ---Burbot River migrations Mactaquac ? ---Lake whitefish River migrations Mactaquac ? ---Longnose sucker River migrations Mactaquac ? ---Muskellunge River migrations Mactaquac ? ---Rainbow smelt River migrations Mactaquac ? ---Rainbow trout River migrations Mactaquac ? ---White perch River migrations Mactaquac Presumed healthy DNR/UNBWhite sucker River migrations Mactaquac Presumed healthy DNR/UNBChain pickerel River resident Mactaquac Presumed healthy DNR/UNBSmallmouth bass River resident Mactaquac Presumed healthy DNR/UNB

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Fish Passage Options: Species to be Moved

Species In-River Movement At Mactaquac Population Status Data sourceAlewife River diadromous Mactaquac >1M DFOAmerican eel River diadromous Mactaquac ? ---American shad River diadromous Mactaquac ? ---Atlantic salmon River diadromous Mactaquac <200 DFOAtlantic sturgeon River diadromous Mactaquac 17,000 Acadian Caviar/UNB/DFOAtlantic tomcod River diadromous Mactaquac ? ---Blueback herring River diadromous Mactaquac >500,000 DFO

Sea lamprey River diadromous Mactaquac ? ---Shortnose stugeon River diadromous Mactaquac >5,000 DFOStriped bass River diadromous Mactaquac ? ---Brook trout River migrations Mactaquac Presumed healthy DNR/UNBBrown bullhead River migrations Mactaquac Presumed healthy DNR/UNBBrown trout River migrations Mactaquac ? ---Burbot River migrations Mactaquac ? ---Lake whitefish River migrations Mactaquac ? ---Longnose sucker River migrations Mactaquac ? ---Muskellunge River migrations Mactaquac ? ---Rainbow smelt River migrations Mactaquac ? ---Rainbow trout River migrations Mactaquac ? ---

White perch River migrations Mactaquac Presumed healthy DNR/UNBWhite sucker River migrations Mactaquac Presumed healthy DNR/UNB

rgeon

species with management issues

species with passage issues

Acknowledgements

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Ross Jones

John Whitelaw

Rod Bradford

Stephanie Ratelle

Brian Jessop (retired)

Acadian Caviar

Cornel Ceapa

NB Dept. of Natural Resources

Kathryn Collette

Chris Connell