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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