Conservationists say drought could threaten salmon returning to spawn in NS rivers

Some conservationists say they are concerned that a prolonged drought in Nova Scotia could cause long-term damage to salmon stocks.

Atlantic salmon return from the ocean’s feeding grounds back to the rivers where they were born each time in search of an ideal place to spawn. but with this Egg-laying season in October and November, crealistically low water level Are Threatening how this important step in their life cycle plays out.

“I’m deeply concerned about how this generation of salmon will survive,” says Amy Weston, managing director of the Nova Scotia Salmon Association.

Female salmon lay and incubate their eggs in a nest or gravel bed known as a redd. Weston said the fish are selective about where they choose to nest and they need favorable water temperatures and water flow, two factors that influence drought conditions.

Salmon like cool, oxygen-rich water, and the warmer the water, the less oxygen it contains. Low water levels mean reduced habitat for fish and restrictions on their movement, making them more vulnerable to predators.

While recent rains have helped replenish some key watersheds where salmon spawn, Weston fears that if the drought continues, it could cause other problems in the winter.

“When we have shallow conditions and we get hard cold, ice forms in the river. And if it’s too shallow, it will form and freeze to the bottom of the rivers,” he said. “When it breaks it pulls out the gravel, and you risk losing those red stones.”

Fisheries in the province were already under stress low water level and dramatic increase in water temperatureIn the St. Marys River, one of Nova Scotia’s largest and most important salmon rivers, the impact of the drought has been particularly severe.

“The feeder streams that keep the main branch flowing are completely dried up. Gone, there’s nothing in them,” said Scott Beaver, president of the St. Marys River Association.

He said the lack of flow caused small trout and salmon parr to become trapped in shrinking warm water ponds, worsening their survival. Easy prey for natural predatorsLow water levels can also hinder the migration efforts of adult salmon and expose them to predation.

Beaver said he feared at one point during the drought that “we might lose the 2025 spawning season altogether.”

But he said rains in late October were likely to provide relief to the fish and give hope to people working to ensure the survival of the species.

Still, both Beavers and Weston said long-term solutions require restoring natural buffers such as riparian forests that provide shade to help keep rivers cool.

As extreme weather becomes more common due to climate change, Weston said, it’s important that communities make an effort to care for fish habitat.

“It is up to us to make our rivers as climate-resilient as possible,” he said. “There is a lot we can do to improve the situation and make habitats more resilient for fish and people.”

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