Oromocto Aboriginal Fisheries Strategy
Oromocto First Nation has enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship with DFO science staff for many years and is a valued partner in annual Atlantic Salmon stock assessment activities on the saint John watershed. A more recent partnership has also been formed with the Maliseet Nation Conservation council. As a result, Oromocto First Nation has enlarged the scope of the AFS activities with the addition of collaborative science projects.
Nashwaak River Smolt Wheel & Counting Fence
Our crews participate in a longstanding research and assessment project to determine Atlantic Salmon returns along the Nashwaak river. The counting fence is a tool to determine stock status in the Saint John River tributaries below the Mactaquac dam. This is an ongoing partnership with DFO science staff.
Collaborative Science Surveys
In collaboration with Maliseet Conservation Council we conduct the following surveys;
- Determine American Eel abundance and factors influencing traditional eel traps in the Saint John River.
- Evaluate the status of culverts in a portion of the Oromocto Watershed to collect and document of both functional and non-functional culverts across the watershed which hinder proper fish passage.
- Stream Assessment, to determine quality of habitat for salmon and other cold-water fish and identify fish passage and other issues that hinder fish migration.
Habitat Enhancement
Walk river shore line and use boat to collected debris to improve fish passage and create positive PR on fish conservation.
AFS Update
During the summer season we employ 9 AFS employees funded by the AFS agreement and one Summer student under the OFN summer program.
Currently our counting fence crew is doing shift work along with KFN. The counting fence needs 24hr monitoring. We are happy to announce that there getting a new office, which is used by all our staff while on their 12-hour shifts.
The Eel crew has been setting traps since the start of June. We’ve increased are total traps from 20 to 35 to meet our goal. The crew made their own traps this year, here’s a looking of the crew in action. The crew has identified all culverts for assessment other projects starting later this summer.
