Rattling Brook Creel Census
Thanks to funding support from Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation ERMA team members will be conducting a creel census for the 2021 winter angling seasons within the Rattling Brook watershed. The purpose of this project is to determine if misidentification of fish by recreational anglers is negatively impacting kelt returns and thus possibly effecting the restoration of Atlantic salmon populations in this watershed. This roving creel census will concentrate on fish that were angled, possibly misidentified by the recreational angler as Quananiche and retained. Biological data will be collected through the physical sampling of angled fish. With DFO analysis, identification as either kelt or Quananiche will prove if overwintering kelt are being accidently angled and therefore reducing kelt populations returning to sea. Data gathered through this project will also supplement DFO’s summer recreational fishery Atlantic Salmon Licence Stub program for the greater Exploits watershed area, which is an important tool in 3 stock assessment to determine status of salmon populations.