High water temperatures and low water levels are having a serious impact on Newfoundland and Labrad or's Atlantic salmo n population, as Fisheries and Oceans Canada reports more than 60 per cent of Newfoundland's salmon rivers remain in the critical zone.

"Once water levels drop, temperature can go up much faster. So then, you can have high temperature events," salmon stock assessment biologist Nick Kelly told reporters Friday.

"The number of young salmon over the next few years who are impacted by these low water levels or high temperatures, if they continue, could definitely reduce the number of salmon further, say five, six years from now."

DFO's 2025 salmon stock assessment shows a continued downward trend in salmon returns, and continuing historic lows felt since 2023.

Kelly sai

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