Leonard Nicholas views Atlantic salmon in a manner that differs from many residents of New Brunswick — he considers them to be kin or forebears.
“They’ve existed alongside us for as long as we have,” stated Nicholas, who serves as the fishery strategy director for the Tobique First Nation. “That’s why we have made such efforts to preserve them.”
The Tobique River, which Nicholas regards as home, is a tributary of the Wolastoq, also known as the St. John River. This river system once supported tens of thousands of salmon up until the 1980s. Presently, only a few hundred make their way back to the Mactaquac Dam each year, according to data from the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
While the salmon population is in decline, the DFO’s Mactaquac Biodiversity Facility has been instrumental in its survival.
“The best comparison would be that the patient is still alive, but certainly not in good health,” remarked UNB biologist Tommi Linnansaari.
“We’re essentially keeping the patient, so to speak, on life support. But if we were to remove it from that support, it would die immediately,”
The facility has assisted in moving salmon upstream past three hydroelectric dams and has also raised juvenile salmon collected from the river before releasing them further upstream to spawn.
However, the DFO plans to shut down that facility this fall.
First Nations express that their efforts to protect salmon in the St. John River will face challenges after the closure of DFO’s Mactaquac Biodiversity Facility.
Christine Lyons, a spokesperson for DFO, stated that “despite 25 years of considerable efforts,” the returns of salmon remain low.
First Nations and scientists warn that the facility’s closure will likely lead to the extinction of salmon in the Wolastoq, a species referred to by DFO and experts as outer Bay of Fundy salmon.
Nicholas learned of the impending closure in January, and by February, he was informed that DFO would not assist him in transporting or raising the spring cohort of juveniles.
“To receive this news in the same year that they’re shutting it down without any adequate notice or consultation was a serious blow, and I’ve been trying to adapt ever since,” he shared.
Nicholas collaborates with a team that gathers juvenile salmon from above the N.B. Power’s Tobique River dam.
Fish navigate through N.B. Power’s Tobique Dam using this fishway. (Oliver Pearson/CBC)
The salmon utilize a fishway, a sloped structure at the top of the dam that directs fish into a collection pool. Previously, DFO would collect the fish, transport them to their facility for rearing, and then return them upstream for spawning.
Now, Nicholas finds himself with juvenile salmon, or smolts, passing through the fishway without anyone available to rear them. While he devises a strategy, the Canadian Rivers Institute at UNB, a coalition of researchers dedicated to enhancing river ecosystems, has been providing assistance.
This non-profit institute has been relocating smolts downstream of the Mactaquac Dam.
Juvenile salmon, known as smolts, are gathered by the fishway at Tobique Dam prior to being transported downstream. Some of these fish are tagged by the Canadian Rivers Institute for tracking purposes. (Aniekan Etuhube/CBC)
Last year, approximately 2,600 smolts were collected at Tobique, and around 350 were gathered during this year’s fall run.
Linnansaari, a fellow at the Canadian Rivers Institute, indicated that research conducted by his students at UNB reveals that these smolts, measuring about five inches in length, have less than a one percent chance of successfully migrating to the ocean and returning to spawn.
Delay in Endangered Status
John Perley, who served as the fisheries director for Tobique First Nation for 30 years, recalls a time when thousands of salmon returned.
Witnessing the decline of the population, he questions why the federal government has yet to classify the Wolastoq salmon as endangered.
He suspects that political influences are obstructing the species from being included under the federal Species at Risk Act, or SARA. This process allows federal politicians, specifically the ministers of fisheries and of environment, climate change, and nature, to have the final say.
John Perley remembers when thousands of salmon returned to the Tobique River. (Oliver Pearson/CBC)
The evaluation process begins with a study of the population’s health, managed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. This scientific committee assesses the population and assigns a status, such as endangered or threatened.
Bruce Leaman became a committee member in 2019 and concluded his term on the marine fishes committee, which includes Atlantic salmon, last year.
The scientists classified the outer Bay of Fundy salmon as endangered in both 2010 and 2025. Leaman participated in the 2025 assessment, which attributed the population decline to factors like dams, invasive species, pollution, and climate change.
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DFO explains closure of biodiversity facilities
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First Nations continue call to save Mactaquac salmon facility
Leaman noted that from 1993 to 2024, the population saw an 80 percent decrease. However, he has observed that marine species rarely make it onto the government’s endangered list, regardless of the severity of their situations.
“You invest considerable time and effort trying to present evidence, only for it to possibly not receive listing,” Leaman expressed.
“It’s somewhat disheartening to see a recommendation for endangered status made in 2010, and yet conditions have not improved; they have worsened since then.”
Bruce Leaman served as the co-chair of COSEWIC’s marine fishes committee until last year. (Submitted by Bruce Leaman)
According to Leaman, the federal minister considers more than just scientific data when making decisions. Socio-economic factors, such as commercial and recreational fishing as well as power generation, are taken into account. The minister also accepts public feedback regarding the species’ status.
Linnansaari expressed his frustration with the SARA process, labeling it as “painful.” He mentioned that “socio-political factors” often prevent species from achieving endangered status, since such a designation necessitates a recovery plan to tackle the issues behind the population decline.
Wolastoqey Voice Concerns in Ottawa
Patrick Polchies, fisheries manager for Kingsclear First Nation, has observed the changes in the Wolastoq.
Kingsclear, also known as Bilijk, is situated just west of Fredericton near the base of the Mactaquac Dam and downstream from Tobique First Nation.
Polchies, along with community member Chad Solomon and Bilijk Chief Justice Gruben, appeared before the House of Commons fisheries and oceans committee in June, responding to questions from MPs regarding the Atlantic salmon population.
Patrick Polchies, left, and Bilijk Chief Justice Gruben, spoke in front of the House of Commons Fisheries and Oceans committee in June. (House of Commons)
Polchies conveyed to the committee that salmon have navigated the waters of the Wolastoq for as long as his ancestors have resided there.
“It seems illogical that the most endangered salmon have not attracted any attention,” Polchies remarked during the committee session.
“The only attention they have received was from the government shutting down the biodiversity facility. That doesn’t make sense to me.”
Gruben informed the committee that the Wolastoqey community desires continued support from DFO for the outer Bay of Fundy salmon.
Federal Government Remains Non-Committal on Endangered Status
Amélie Desmarais, a representative from Environment and Climate Change Canada, indicated that DFO leads the efforts regarding aquatic species at risk.
Desmarais explained that the fisheries minister will offer advice to the minister of environment, climate change, and nature, after which a recommendation will be forwarded to the Governor-in-Council, who is responsible for the final decision on listing.
Prior to the 2025 assessment, DFO had not reached a conclusion on whether the outer Bay of Fundy salmon should be classified as endangered.
Naomi Librach, a spokesperson for DFO, noted that the decision regarding the 2010 assessment had been postponed “for several reasons.”
Librach mentioned that the delays stemmed from the complexity of the analysis, the diverse interests and perspectives to consider, and the potential consequences of a decision to list the species.
When the federal government evaluates the potential for a species to be listed as endangered, they consider socio-economic factors such as hydroelectric dams and commercial fisheries. This dam is one of three in the St. John River system, located in Tobique. (Aniekan Etuhube/CBC)
Once the federal government receives the new assessment for 2025, the decision-making process will commence anew.
Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson’s office declined to grant an interview request.
Lyons stated that DFO “will continue collaborating with key partners, including Indigenous communities, to conserve and protect wild Atlantic salmon.”
“DFO acknowledges the cultural and spiritual significance of wild Atlantic salmon to the Wolastoqey.”
