Streamside Fertilization Project

The streamside fertilization project has been a concept that was in the planning stage for over 1 year, its reasoning was to reduce fish stress during broodstock transfer for annual fertilization and improving fish health. The Charlo hatchery is located 84 kilometres from Pabineau First Nation counting area.

This was simply achieved rather transferring the broodstock to the hatchery, from only transferring fertilized Atlantic salmon eggs within 24 hrs. to the Charlo hatchery for the winter season, and immediately returning the broodstock in the Nepisiguit River from the artificial spawning process.

The proposal concept was submitted to Pabineau First Nation of October 2020, and all equipment and supplies was on site in the summer of 2021.

2- 6 cubic meter tanks, oxygen generator and saturator, 1– sand filter for sedimentation were placed next to the river for the initial test.

Placement Of Fertilization Equipment

The installation was carefully planned and tested to insure fish health. To ensure cooler water provision, a natural spring fed vein pool was located in the Nepisiguit River. This was located 200 feet from the equipment installation, 2 weeks of water flow and available dissolved oxygen parameters had to be respected.

These results were very promising, another 1 week of testing was observed with 8 Atlantic Salmon retrieved from the Pabineau First Nation counting fence project in the 2 – 6 cubic meter tanks. Again, all fish were in great health, and water parameter readings of temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and water flow rate were taken twice a day.

At this point the organized placement of equipment for the fertilization process was installed. Fish were placed under a natural clove oil and ethanol anastasis solution, diluted in 2ml. per 5 litres of water. Fish were recovered in good health in the respected recovery tank, then released back in the Nepisiguit River.
All proper authority permits and transfer permits have been approved by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

With all respected parameters and procedures in place for stream side fertilization in place, On September 28th, the first collection of broodstock were retrieved from the Pabineau First Nation counting fence project. 13 females and 20 males’ Atlantic salmon were retained for fertilization.

All procedures of reproduction fertilization and incubation is referred from ‘’Fascicule 3’’ from MAPAQ (Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec).

Ruby Aubie From Pabineau First Nation

On October 28th, the first Atlantic Salmon stream side fertilization was executed, with 5 out of 8 female salmon verified produced a total of 33,869 eggs. The eggs were fertilized with 2 male salmon to 1 female to insure fertilization.

Average eggs size 5mm. in diameter = 8,913 eggs per litre
3.8 litre of eggs retained (stripped) from 5 female salmon
3.8 litres X 8913 eggs per litre = 33,869 Total Salmon Eggs

On November 1st., another Atlantic Salmon stream side fertilization was executed, with 7 female salmon producing a total of 57,310 eggs. The eggs were fertilized with 2 male salmon to 1 female to insure fertilization.

Average eggs size 5mm. in diameter = 8,913 eggs per litre
6.43 litre of eggs retained (stripped) from 7 female salmon
6.43 liters X 8913 eggs per litre = 57,310 Total Salmon Eggs

On November 11th, another Atlantic Salmon stream side fertilization was executed, with 1 female salmon producing a total of 9,804 eggs. The eggs were fertilized with 2 male salmon to 1 female to insure fertilization.

Average eggs size 5mm. in diameter = 8,913 eggs per litre
1.1 litre of eggs retained (stripped) from 7 female salmon
1.1 liters X 8913 eggs per litre = 9,804 Total Salmon Eggs

A grand total of 100,983 fertilized Atlantic salmon eggs were attained this year with 13 adult female salmon were used and 24 adult male and grilse salmon used. All product was transferred to SNC Charlo Hatchery for winter storage at their facilities.

Broodstock Holding Tanks

Sedation Tank

Stripping Eggs From Broodstock

Stripping Male Product On The Eggs

Fertilization Of The Eggs

Rinsing Of The Eggs

Hardening Of The Eggs At Rest

Recovery Tank

Fish Released Back Into The River

Future plans: To move forward with the streamside fertilization, Pabineau First Nation is planning to house the streamside fertilization tanks and equipment in a new Salmon Interpretation Centre building. The Salmon Interpretation Centre is supported by DFO, ACOA, NB Tourist and Industry.

Future plans continued: It is Pabineau’s responsibility to ensure that the salmon eggs are taken care of and maintained over the winter months. Currently, Pabineau First Nation is using the Charlo Hatchery for this service. However, in the near future, Pabineau First Nation is going to build a Fish Hatchery in community to ensure Nepisiguit salmon eggs are monitored continuously to ensure maximum egg survival rate.

Pabineau First Nation have big plans to “do our part” in the management, protection, conserving and the restoring our salmon population, and attract many visitors to our beautiful community to learn about the life cycle of the Atlantic salmon.