“Concerns Rise Over Closure of Vital Salmon Gene Banks”

Two organizations focused on salmon conservation alongside an Indigenous water protector have raised concerns that the closure of federal biodiversity facilities in the Maritimes may have dire consequences for an endangered salmon species. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announced the discontinuation of its Atlantic Salmon Live Gene Bank program, resulting in the closure of facilities in Mactaquac, N.B., and Coldbrook, N.S. These gene banks play a crucial role in supporting at-risk Inner Bay of Fundy Atlantic salmon populations by nurturing wild juvenile salmon to maturity, enabling mating, and releasing the offspring back into the ecosystem. Nikki-Marie Lloyd, a former Indigenous liaison at the Coldbrook facility from Annapolis Valley First Nation, emphasized the vital work conducted at the facility, warning that the Inner Bay of Fundy salmon population could face extinction without it. The Inner Bay of Fundy Atlantic salmon has been classified as endangered under the Species at Risk Act since 2003. While DFO did not grant an interview to CBC News, they stated their commitment to upholding obligations outlined in the Species at Risk Act through collaboration with partners on the National Atlantic Salmon Strategy introduced in March 2025. This strategy aims to restore and enhance wild Atlantic salmon populations and their habitats. The closure of these facilities is part of broader budget cuts announced by the federal government, raising uncertainties about the future of the Nappan, N.S., federal research farm. Conservationists and experts, including Amy Weston from the Nova Scotia Salmon Association and Deirdre Green from the Atlantic Salmon Federation, expressed concerns about the repercussions of shutting down the gene banks, stressing the urgency of preserving this salmon population. They highlighted the inadequacy of DFO’s national conservation strategy in compensating for the closures. A recent report by DFO revealed that the majority of returning adult Atlantic salmon in the Inner Bay of Fundy were offspring from the gene banks, emphasizing the critical role these facilities play in sustaining the population. Both Green and Lloyd advocate for the continuation of the live gene bank facilities, with hopes that an organization or First Nation will take over their operations to ensure the survival of the Inner Bay of Fundy salmon.