The Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick and experts in Atlantic salmon research and conservation are expressing disapproval of the federal government’s decision to close the Mactaquac Biodiversity Facility, which includes a hatchery in French Village situated below the Mactaquac Dam on the St. John River. This closure, part of a cost-cutting initiative by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, also affects a similar facility in Coldbrook, N.S.
Critics are particularly concerned about the discontinuation of the Atlantic salmon live gene bank program, operated by staff at these facilities. The Wolastoqey group, representing six Wolastoqey communities, expressed deep reservations about not being consulted on the closure decision, emphasizing the impact on both the river and the salmon population, which are crucial to their culture and rights.
According to Tommi Linnansaari, a biology professor at the University of New Brunswick, the Mactaquac facility runs various programs essential for salmon conservation. These programs involve collecting wild brood stock, fertilizing eggs, and releasing young salmon upstream. The facility also supports the growth and release of juvenile salmon into the Tobique River, aiding in the preservation of outer Bay of Fundy salmon populations.
The closure of the hatchery is predicted to have dire consequences for salmon populations in the St. John River, which have significantly declined over the years. David Roth, the Atlantic Salmon Federation’s New Brunswick program director, highlighted the vital role of the hatchery in preserving salmon populations and expressed concerns over the potential devastation caused by its closure.
The Wolastoqey Nation is currently assessing the repercussions of the decision, including the loss of jobs, training opportunities, and impacts on salmon conservation efforts. The closure contradicts an agreement signed in 1968 between the federal government and N.B. Power, which established the Mactaquac Biodiversity Facility to mitigate the ecological effects of the Mactaquac Dam.
While the reasons for the closure remain unclear, stakeholders hope for a revised approach to salmon recovery programs or alternative funding sources to sustain these critical conservation efforts. The closure of the hatchery could jeopardize decades of work and endanger the genetic diversity of salmon populations, with potential irreversible consequences for the ecosystem and the species.
