Nova Scotia Southern Upland
The Nova Scotia Southern Upland Atlantic Salmon live in rivers from approximately Kentville to Canso, emptying into the Bay of Fundy and Atlantic Ocean.
The Nova Scotia Southern Upland Atlantic salmon population is known to occur in 72 watersheds from Cape Split in the Bay of Fundy to Canso, the last town on mainland Nova Scotia before Cape Breton.
The population is severely affected by acid rain, human development, and invasive fish species in some places. COSEWIC estimated in 2010 that adult populations in the region had declined by 61 percent over the previous 15 years and assessed the population as Endangered.
Data for that assessment was drawn mainly from four rivers, Yet in the last 12 years, evidence has emerged that populations are recovering thanks to concerted efforts from the Nova Scotia Salmon Association and groups like the St. Mary's River Association, which has a goal of reopening a sustainable salmon fishery.
NGO-led initiatives, supported by private donations as well as federal and provincial grants, are making a significant difference. A listing under the Species at Risk Act would bring little benefit, complicate the work of the salmon community, and demoralize volunteers working toward locally managed, sustainable fisheries.