Salmon conservationists and local anglers voice strong opposition to the provincial government’s decision to withdraw from the memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the south coast National Marine Conservation Area (NMCA).
The Salmon Association of Eastern Newfoundland (SAEN) and nearby anglers highlight the move as a setback for conservation efforts, science-driven policies, and the economic vitality of rural coastal communities.
Government Announces Termination
Environment, Conservation and Climate Change Minister Chris Tibbs announced the province’s termination of the MOU on February 3. The decision notifies key signatories, including Parks Canada, Miawpukek First Nation, Qalipu First Nation, and the Town of Burgeo.
Tibbs states the proposed marine conservation area fails to balance environmental protection with industrial needs, prompting the withdrawal of provincial support.
Details of the Proposed Area
The Parks Canada initiative spans approximately 6,500 square kilometers of coastline from La Poile Bay to McCallum, encompassing regions near Burgeo and Ramea. Popular scheduled salmon rivers, such as Grey River and Grandy’s River, lie within and around this zone.
Discussions and planning for the project span over two decades, involving local towns, tourism operators, and economic leaders, who view the sudden reversal as a dismissal of their long-term commitments.
Critical Salmon Declines
SAEN President David Hennessey emphasizes the pressing need to safeguard the region, citing a 92 percent drop in Atlantic salmon returns to the Conne River over the past four decades. Recent peer-reviewed studies reveal a 70 percent decline in marine survival rates, attributing it to south coast stressors, including open-net pen salmon aquaculture.
“Wild Atlantic salmon form part of our cultural heritage,” Hennessey notes. “Yet industrial expansion threatens more habitat, despite proven harm to wild stocks.”
Stakeholder Calls for Reversal
SAEN urges the government to resume participation in the MOU, designed to address concerns from all parties, including fishing and aquaculture sectors. The group argues that exiting now hinders solutions for ocean challenges and deprives the area of vital resources and protected habitats.
Salmon Preservation Association for the Waters of Newfoundland (SPAWN) President John McCarthy plans to seek a meeting with Premier Tony Wakeham soon and withholds further public statements until then.
Long-time angler Leslie Hiscock, who has fished Grandy’s River for 46 years and Grey River previously, expresses alarm over potential damage to wild salmon stocks and ecosystem health, essential for local angling and livelihoods. He prioritizes habitat protection amid aquaculture pressures in sensitive zones.
Veteran guide Corey LeRiche from Port aux Basques warns that salmon and other species lose crucial safeguards without the NMCA. He attributes widespread damage along south and southwest coasts to open-pen aquaculture and seals, noting impacts extend far beyond farm sites.
