Quebec's Salmon Scene
In the rivers of Quebec, the year 2025 has brought a mix of hope and challenges for the salmon population. The return of the Madeleineaux salmon, a rare and prized species, has been observed in most rivers, signalling a potential restoration of large fish stocks by 2026. However, the 2025 season remains economically challenging for salmon river managers.
The recovery of the salmon population suggests that Quebec's salmon populations have not permanently collapsed, as was feared following the disastrous 2023 and 2024 seasons. Myriam Bergeron, the general director of the Quebec Atlantic Salmon Federation (FQSA), expresses a cautious optimism about the population's recovery.
Large salmon, or "redibemarins", remain rare this year, but their return in 2026 is expected due to the current abundance of Madeleineaux. The survival of salmon in Quebec is threatened and requires protection. To ensure this, the Quebec government has tightened the rules governing salmon fishing, requiring anglers to release caught salmon back into the water.
The Matane River, a significant body of water for salmon in Quebec, has experienced a significant increase in small salmon this year, with 1219 Madeleineaux by September 1, ranking among the best seasons of the last decade. However, large salmon stocks in the Matane River were "very poor" this summer.
The cause of the marine mortality associated with these seasons is still under investigation. Four potential causes are being considered: oceanographic conditions, accidental captures by commercial fishermen, pathogenic agents from fish farms, and warming of rivers. The details of these suspected causes are not yet publicly available.
Meanwhile, attendance for the 2025 season is around half the usual levels. Despite the financial difficulties, most anglers found the fishing good. The FQSA, authorities, and universities are working together to understand the reasons behind the low attendance and the recovery of the salmon population.
In other news, a monumental eco-friendly artwork, "Enfant lumière", has been installed on the surface of Lake Osisko in Rouyn-Noranda. The general director of Publications BLD, which publishes "Les Débrouillards" among others, passed away on Sunday.
Looking to the future, M. Bergeron predicts that climate changes will cause fluctuations in the salmon stocks. As such, the FQSA and other organisations will continue to monitor the situation closely and take necessary actions to protect and preserve Quebec's salmon populations.
