FEATURE ARTICLE: MSA
MIRAMICHI SALMON ASSOCIATION:
A History Of Conservation
The Miramichi River coils through the east-central landmass of New Brunswick before draining into the Gulf of St. Lawrence by way of the Miramichi Bay. Its watershed supports a massive amount of natural beauty and wildlife. In fact, it sports one of the largest Atlantic salmon populations in all of North America. The Miramichi Salmon Association( MSA) has a clear mission statement, and its history and actions since formation have bolstered and supported Atlantic salmon since the very beginning. What is that mission statement? To provide“ global-class leadership, stewardship, and conservation practices for the Miramichi Watershed to continuously preserve and advance its environmental integrity for the benefit of all species, in particular the Atlantic salmon.” For over sixty years, the MSA has been a champion of conservation on behalf of anglers, outfitters, guides, and anyone else who has an interest in the River, whether that interest is economic, environmental, or recreational.
On October 8, 1953, the MSA was founded by a small group of conservation-minded pioneers, all of whom shared a common love for the watershed and feared for its future. That group was composed of anglers, guides, camp owners, and local businesspeople. Over the last six decades, a lot of things have been accomplished. For the first thirty-five years, the MSA was under the leadership of Jack Fenety, who used his persuasive voice to lobby for changes in the watershed. This led to a slew of positive net outcomes, including a reduction on bag limits for Atlantic salmon, bans for angling for salmon from bridges, creating closed fishing zones, banning commercial net salmon fishing, and establishing the mandatory use of flies only for angling salmon.
In 1997, the MSA took over the operation
of the Miramichi Salmon Conservation Centre( MSCC), the oldest operational Atlantic salmon hatchery in Canada. Located in South Esk, New Brunswick, the MSCC first began constructing buildings and ponds in 1873. Since that time, the MSCC has operated continuously, growing both Atlantic salmon and speckled trout. Thanks to recent renovations, the MSCC has further enhanced its role as a major centre for Atlantic salmon research while continuing to enhance salmon populations to sustain optimum juvenile salmon stocks throughout the Miramichi watershed.
Now approaching its sixty-fifth year, the MSA has become much more than what it began as. It’ s not just a small group of salmon anglers. It’ s a community of both local and international volunteers and enthusiasts who are fiercely loyal to the Miramichi River. They have become a leading“ on-the-river” conservation
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