Parker’s River: Key habitat in supporting the southernmost anadromous population of Arctic char

Abstract:

On the Great Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland, Canada, in Parker’s River, which flows into Pistolet Bay, a small localized population of Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) is the southernmost sea-run (anadromous) char in the province (Dempson 1982 and references therein). Cumulative, primarily anthropogenic, threats against these species regionally have included overfishing, climate change, adverse changes in stream morphology, and a number of water-quality-related issues such as warm water temperatures, low dissolved oxygen levels, increased ocean water temperatures, changes in salinity, chemical contamination, nutrient loading, and/or increased fine sediment loading. Both Arctic char and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) have been observed to experience stress and mortality periodically at the mouth of Parker’s River. Surveys and geomorphic and habitat investigations suggest that the combination of watershed-scale physical processes and infrastructure and other human activities at the mouth of the river have contributed to the observed mortality. As this is the southernmost run for Arctic char, local interest in addressing this issue is strong for residents, Indigenous organizations, provincial and federal agencies, and non-profit organizations. Over the next year, the restoration project, in partnership with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Canada, will include physical restoration of the river system to reduce mortality of fish, additional research, regional education, awareness and enforcement, and monitoring.