Thursday, August 01, 2019

Heat wave closes salmon pools on 2 New Brunswick. rivers

Gail Harding · CBC News · Posted: Jul 31, 2019 1:40 PM AT | Last Updated: July 31st

DFO says warm water temperature causes stress in Atlantic salmon

Salmon pools on two New Brunswick rivers have been closed because high water temperatures during the current heat wave are stressful to fish, Fisheries and Oceans Canada says.

A stretch of the Nepisiguit River from the dam at Grand Falls downstream to the mouth of the river is closed to angling except between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m.

On the Miramichi River, 27 salmon fishing pools have also been closed to angling, except between 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. The affected areas include:

Northwest Miramichi River upstream to its junction with the North and South branches, not including tributaries;

Little Southwest Miramichi River including the North Pole Stream and the Lower North Branch Little Southwest Miramichi River, not including tributaries;

Big Sevogle River including the North and South branches, not including tributaries;

Southwest Miramichi River including the North and South branches, not including tributaries;

Rocky Brook and Clearwater Brook, not including tributaries;

Renous River including the North and South branches, not including tributaries;

Dungarvon River, not including tributaries;

Bartholomew River, not including tributaries;

Cains River, not including tributaries.

The closures for angling are triggered when the water temperature reaches an established level.

The department said in a release that because Atlantic salmon is a cold water species, it can experience temperature-related stress or exhaustion when the minimum water temperature stays above 20 C, which can cause death.

"We are experiencing a period of warm temperatures in the air as you have seen but also in the water," said Frédéric Butruille, regional senior fisheries and aquaculture management officer.

"Angling can be detrimental to the survival of salmon when it is done in warm waters."

Butruille said the water temperature has to be above 20 Celsius for 48 hours before a closure is considered.

"How hot is it? We have seen two days in the Nepisiguit where the average temperature stayed above 20 degrees Celsius, so it was time to act."

But Butruille pointed out that during the hottest part to the day the river reached 28 C. 

With high temperatures, Atlantic salmon seek refuge in cooler parts of the river or brooks and sometimes bunch together. Butruille said some will still take a fly but if they are stressed and exhausted from the fight, they could die after being released.

While this is the first angling closure on the Nepisiguit River, Butruille said there has been previous closures on the Miramichi River where a water temperature protocol has been in place for seven years.

"The anglers are very sensible to everything that can harm salmon. They are very concerned of the state of salmon in general so we have a good collaboration and everybody I work with wants to protect salmon as much as possible and do the right thing."

Fisheries and Oceans will issue a notice when conditions have improved enough to reopen angling in the affected rivers.

Clarifications

An earlier version of this story incorrectly said a stretch of the Nepisiguit River was closed to angling all day. In fact, fishing is allowed between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m. Aug 01, 2019 3:02 PM AT

Prince Edward Island heat wave breaks record Wednesday

Kevin Yarr · CBC News · Posted: Jul 31, 2019 7:46 AM AT | Last Updated: July 31st

Current Charlottetown record was 30 C, set in 1949

Charlottetown saw a record hot temperature for July 31 as a heat wave entered its fourth day on P.E.I.

A heat warning has been in effect since Sunday morning. Environment Canada is cautioning people to take care during outdoor activities, and to take frequent breaks and stay hydrated if you do have to work outside.

The temperature in Charlottetown was forecast to reach 30 C, which it did at 3 p.m. AT. That's the same as the record set in 1949. Then at 4 p.m., the temperature climbed to 30.3 at the Charlottetown Airport, breaking the record.

The temperature would have to reach a little higher in Summerside, where the record stands at 30.6 C, recorded in 1949. As of 4 p.m. the temperature in Summerside was 30 C.

While Tuesday's weather did not break records in Charlottetown or Summerside, CBC meteorologist Jim Abraham did note a milestone.

"For the first time, I think, I've ever seen all of the Environment Canada weather stations exceeded 30 degrees on Prince Edward Island," said Abraham.

"It was between 30 and 31 all across the island yesterday, even at East Point and North Cape and some of those coastal stations."

Thunderstorms coming

The hot weather will break overnight Wednesday said Abraham, as a cooler air mass moves over the Maritimes bringing some stormy weather. The risk of thunderstorms starts in the afternoon and continues through the night.

"Folks should be careful with some of those thunderstorms — they may be rather severe with heavy downpours, lightning and the like," said Abraham.

"It's hard to say who will get it and when and where they might occur, but because we're transitioning from a very hot air mass to a cooler dry air mass there may be some significant weather in between."

The high Thursday is forecast to be 24 C, and Abraham said the humidity will be lower as well.

Heat Wave Day - 07/31/2019

New Brunswick

CFB Gagetown

High: 32.4°C
Low: 17.0°C

Doaktown

High: 32.1°C
Low: 18.6°C

Fredericton International Airport

Max: 32.4°C
Low: 17.8°C

Kouchibouguac

Max: 32.4°C
Min: 18.7°C

Miramichi

Max: 33.1°C
Min: 19.6°C

Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport

Max: 32.5°C
Min: 16.8°C

Nova Scotia

Caribou Point

Max: 32.4°C
Min: 18.7°C

Ingonish Beach

Max: 33.9°C
Min: 17.3°C

North East Margaree

Max: 32.2°C
Min: 15.0°C

Maine

Portland

Max: 90°F/32.2°C
Min: 69°F/20.5°C

Weather summary
for New Brunswick
issued by Environment Canada
at 4:05 a.m. ADT Thursday 1 August 2019.

Discussion.

The following areas set a daily maximum temperature record on July
31, 2019:

Bouctouche Area (Bouctouche CDA CS)
New record of 31.6
Old record of 31.3 set in 2012
Records in this area have been kept since 1965

Doaktown Area (Doaktown AUTO RCS)
New record of 32.1
Old record of 31 set in 2017
Records in this area have been kept since 1952

Fredericton Area (Fredericton CDA CS)
New record of 32.4
Old record of 31.1 set in 2007
Records in this area have been kept since 1871

Moncton Area (Moncton Intl A)
New record of 32.5
Old record of 32.2 set in 1949
Records in this area have been kept since 1881

Note: the temperature records reported here have been derived from a
selection of historical stations in each geographic area that were
active during the period of record.

Please note that this summary may contain preliminary or unofficial
information and does not constitute a complete or final report.

End/ASPC

Weather summary
for Nova Scotia
issued by Environment Canada
at 4:05 a.m. ADT Thursday 1 August 2019.

Discussion.

The following areas set a daily maximum temperature record on July
31, 2019:

Halifax Area (Halifax Stanfield Int'l A)
New record of 29
Old record of 28.8 set in 2012
Records in this area have been kept since 1920

Ingonish Area (Ingonish Beach RCS)
New record of 33.9
Old record of 31.5 set in 1994
Records in this area have been kept since 1950

Kejimkujik (National Park) Area (Kejimkujik 1)
New record of 31.9
Old record of 31.1 set in 1999
Records in this area have been kept since 1966

Note: the temperature records reported here have been derived from a
selection of historical stations in each geographic area that were
active during the period of record.

Please note that this summary may contain preliminary or unofficial
information and does not constitute a complete or final report.

End/ASPC

Weather summary
for Prince Edward Island
issued by Environment Canada
at 4:01 a.m. ADT Thursday 1 August 2019.

Discussion.

The following areas set or tied a daily maximum temperature record
on July 31, 2019:

Charlottetown Area (Charlottetown A)
New record of 30.5
Old record of 29.7 set in 2012
Records in this area have been kept since 1872

St. Peters Bay Area (St. Peters)
Tied record of 31 set in 1999
Records in this area have been kept since 1960

Note: the temperature records reported here have been derived from a
selection of historical stations in each geographic area that were
active during the period of record.

Please note that this summary may contain preliminary or unofficial
information and does not constitute a complete or final report.

End/ASPC