A critical examination of historic decision-making for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in the Inner Bay of Fundy

Abstract

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) are a keystone species in Atlantic Canada and play an integral role in local and Indigenous culture, however, they are in jeopardy. The looming threat of extinction of Atlantic salmon in Canada has resulted in a variety of management strategies from the international to the local level to conserve the species. However, the current level of decline in Atlantic Canada is demanding more aggressive management approaches that will only be successful if grounded in place-specific characteristics. Rapid population declines have resulted in limited options to guide management approaches; it will therefore be important that new approaches adopt past lessons, consider current realities, and apply transdisciplinary practices. The use of the Bay of Fundy as a case study offers a key opportunity to closely examine the management problem and to emphasize collaborative needs between scales of governance. This paper will look specifically at the Inner Bay of Fundy Designatable Unit of Atlantic salmon and how the status and health of this population has impacted management strategies over time. Through a historical literature review, this paper explores how a lack of holistic management practices has reactively addressed population declines through history, confounding the management problem with new threats. Examining the progression of management strategies will provide insight into recommendations on new approaches to respect and protect this significant species and the people intrinsically and culturally linked to them. Using past lessons and diverse scales of governance, recommendations for the future of Atlantic salmon management approaches are provided.