A review and risk analysis on potential impacts of riverine recreational activities on Atlantic Salmon ( Salmo salar) in eastern Canada

• Published in: Environmental Reviews
• Main Authors: Reid, Connor H., Taylor, Jessica J., Rytwinski, Trina, Possémé, Carl, Lennox, Robert J., April, Julien, Cooke, Steven J.
• Other Authors: Québec Ministère de L’environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs, NSERC
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 2024
• Subjects: Canada; Atlantic salmon; Salmo salar
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/er-2023-0119; https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/full-xml/10.1139/er-2023-0119; https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/er-2023-0119

Atlantic salmon populations face a number of significant, human-driven threats such as overfishing and thermal stress from anthropogenically-accelerated climate change. A considerable body of research has been devoted to such large-scale threats as well as catch-and-release fishing, while the potential impacts of other recreational activities on Atlantic salmon while in rivers have been largely overlooked. Here, we undertook a systematic literature review of the effects that recreational activities (excluding direct impacts of catch-and-release angling) might have on the welfare and survival of Atlantic salmon in riverine systems at all relevant life history stages. Examples of relevant activities examined here include swimming, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) use, and underwater photography. We also performed a relative risk assessment of such activities based on the likelihoods of their occurrence and the severities of their potential impacts. For the most part, the impacts of non-angling recreational activities on Atlantic salmon are likely widespread but largely temporary. Redds, eggs, and juveniles were generally found to be more susceptible to most threats than smolts and adults. However, some activities have significant destructive potential such as ATV use in or around spawning habitats. Significant risks also remain concerning pathogen and invasive species transfer via angling gear, waders, canoes, and other equipment that may be moved across systems without proper cleaning. Although we focused primarily on risks to native Atlantic salmon populations in eastern Canada, the risk assessment framework developed here is broadly applicable and easily adaptable for management in other contexts and jurisdictions with populations of riverine Atlantic salmon and potentially other migratory salmonids too.