Atlantic Salmon Stock Assessment and Monitoring to Guide Conservation in the Kouchibouguac Region

The Greater Kouchibouguac Watershed Association will assess Atlantic salmon stock status in the Kouchibouguac and Kouchibouguacis watersheds while maintaining long term monitoring that informs restoration and supports collaboration with the Gespe’gewa’gi Institute of Natural Understanding, including evaluating in stream uneyed egg incubation as a recovery tool. Core work includes operating count fences and trap nets, tagging adults, collecting genetic samples, conducting juvenile electrofishing and eDNA metabarcoding, and deploying Jordan Scotty incubators stocked with wild collected broodstock eggs. Genetic and methylation analyses will assess diversity, fitness, and parentage to measure population structure and incubation effectiveness. A new anti poaching initiative will convene partners to strengthen surveillance and community awareness, ensuring that conservation actions meaningfully support the long term recovery of Atlantic salmon.