Laboratory to facilitate research into salmon breeding

South Esk, NB – The Centre of Excellence for Atlantic Salmon Studies has been opened by the Miramichi Salmon Association.

“The Miramichi Salmon Association recognizes that conserving and enhancing salmon populations can only be successful with good scientific knowledge,” says Mark Hambrook, the association’s president. “We now have the facilities to attract top researchers to conduct their experiments here on the Miramichi that will benefit salmon populations everywhere.”

The project allowed the association to upgrade its existing facilities at the Miramichi Salmon Conservation Centre, including the construction of a two-storey building with offices, a boardroom, tank room, and wet laboratory and an apartment to house visiting researchers. The project also included the drilling of a new well in addition to the installation of new well pumps, the upgrading of water distribution lines and the construction of a greenhouse over the existing and new tanks.

The centre will facilitate research into salmon breeding and survival. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Miramichi Watershed Management Committee are research partners and permanent tenants at the centre.

A total of $1.7 million was provided for the project from the federal government and the association.