Experts say fish stocks are improving in Petitcodiac River

Fish traps set up along the Petitcodiac River are catching species that haven’t been seen in the river in years, and there’s also been an increase in the number of fish being caught.

Experts say New Brunswick’s Petitcodiac River is returning to its natural state, five years after the opening of the causeway gates.

Fish traps set up along the river are catching species that haven’t been seen in the river in years, and there’s also been an increase in the number of fish being caught.

On Wednesday, researchers caught a 48-centimetre long striped bass – one of the biggest they have been in five years. Earlier this week, the group had 11 in their net.

They didn’t see any striped bass in 2010 but they recorded 150 in 2011. Last year that number jumped to 2,800.

“Seeing a fish this big in the river, we can’t say that they’re spawning here, but it’s awfully encouraging to actually see them using this part of the river,” says fisheries technician Edmund Redfield.

The researchers are also seeing a lot of gaspereau – as many as 700 during one trap check this spring.

When the causeway gates opened in 2010, experts weren’t sure what impact that would have on the smallmouth bass – an invasive species introduced to the Petitcodiac by anglers.

“We can’t say they are gone from the Petitcodiac system, but they’re clearly not present in the numbers they were before,” says Redfield.

While experts are encouraged by the results, they are disappointed they haven’t seen any shad or salmon in the river.

“The population is listed as endangered because the adult salmon aren’t surviving over winter in the bay to return the next year as spawning adults,” explains Tim Robinson of the Fort Folly Habitat Recovery Program.

Researchers will continue to introduce salmon of all ages into the river with the hope of seeing them return to the Petitcodiac on their own and in greater numbers.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Jonathan MacInnis