The decision to close the Mactaquac Biodiversity Facility, consisting mainly of a hatchery in French Village below the Mactaquac Dam on the St. John River, has drawn criticism from the Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick and Atlantic salmon scientists and conservationists. This move, part of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ cost-cutting measures, includes shutting down another facility in Coldbrook, N.S., and discontinuing the Atlantic salmon live gene bank program, impacting salmon-stocking activities.
Expressing deep concern, the Wolastoqey group emphasized its lack of consultation regarding the closure’s impact on the river, also known as Wolastoq, and its significance to the Wolastoqiyik communities and their rights. The facility’s closure jeopardizes the river ecosystem and the critical salmon species, affecting both the environment and indigenous communities.
Tommi Linnansaari, a biology professor at the University of New Brunswick, highlighted the essential work conducted at the Mactaquac facility, such as collecting wild brood stock, fertilizing eggs, and releasing baby salmon in various locations upstream. The closure threatens the survival of salmon populations, particularly in the Tobique River, where smolt-to-adult releases have been crucial for their sustainability.
The Mactaquac facility has been instrumental in supporting DFO recovery programs for salmon populations in the region, and its closure will have devastating consequences, leading to a significant decline in salmon numbers in the St. John River. David Roth, the New Brunswick program director for the Atlantic Salmon Federation, emphasized the critical role of these operations in preserving salmon populations and habitat.
The Wolastoqey Nation is assessing the decision’s repercussions, including the loss of employment opportunities and its adverse effects on salmon conservation initiatives. The closure contradicts the 1968 agreement between the federal Fisheries Department and N.B. Power, establishing the Mactaquac Biodiversity Facility to mitigate the environmental impact of the Mactaquac Dam.
While N.B. Power acknowledged upcoming changes to the facility, the fate of the fish lift remains uncertain. The federal fisheries department’s decision to close the hatchery is seen as a cost-saving measure, though concerns remain about its impact on salmon populations and the effectiveness of previous conservation efforts.
Looking ahead, stakeholders hope for a seamless transition to alternative conservation strategies or improved funding mechanisms to support salmon recovery programs. The closure of the hatchery could jeopardize decades of conservation work and the genetic diversity essential for salmon population sustainability. The need for modernizing facilities and enhancing conservation efforts to protect endangered salmon populations remains a pressing concern among experts and stakeholders.
