The PWA is one of the ten organizations making up The Petitcodiac Fish Recovery Coalition (PFRC).  This is an alliance of conservation, angling and First nations groups working together to restore the native fish populations of the Petitcodiac River.

The PFRC invites you to join us in our efforts to:

-promote and accelerate the reestablishment of native fish species;

-ensure the river and estuary fulfill the role of supporting habitat for the native aquatic species that have historically used the river;

-increase stewardship and conservation activities carried out by citizens throughout the Petitcodiac River Watershed; and

-raise public awareness of and support for all fish and habitat restoration efforts in the Petitcodiac River.

The fish Community of the Petitcodiac River

Historically, the Petitcodiac River Watershed and its tributaries were home to a diverse migratory fish community which included many thousands of annually returning wild Atlantic Salmon and American shad, a significant source of wealth for local fishermen. The construction of the causeway in 1968 however created a n obstruction to natural fish passage and substantially changed the native fish community of the River. As a result populations of several species disappeared from the headwaters (Atlantic salmon, American shad, Atlantic tomcod, and striped bass) and others were greatly reduced (alewife, blueback herring, rainbow smelt, and sea-run brook trout).

The opening of the causeway gates in the spring of 2010, a first step in the Petitcodiac River Restoration Project, now renders their historical habitat accessible again. A fish trap was installed by the PFRC at the head of tide near Salisbury in 2010 to monitor the presence and relative abundance of the various migratory fish species. Seven migratory fish species were observed: sea lamprey. alewife and blueback herring (collectively referred to as gaspereau), brook trout, American eel, Atlantic tomcod and Atlantic sturgeon. The gaspereau, which were previously able to pass upstream due to a gate management strategy, were observed migrating in very large numbers in 2010, as more than 135,000 were captured in the trap.

Although most of the other species observed at the trap were scarce in numbers, our work shows that there is potential for restoration of the native fish community of the Petitcodiac River.

Invasive Species

Smallmouth bass were illegally introduced into the headpond created by the Petitcodiac River causeway sometime in the 1990's. Now that the estuary extends to its natural reach, this invasive species may spread to new areas of the watershed. This could result in competition with other fish for habitat and other resources, disturb the ecosystem and negatively affect reestablishment efforts of the rivers native fish species.