Most scheduled salmon rivers in Newfoundland and Labrador saw a drop in returns in the last year, some of which were down “considerably.”

DFO biologist Nick Kelly provided an update on the Atlantic salmon stock yesterday.

He says environmental factors are playing a role, affecting marine survival. That includes the availability of food sources, says Kelly.

Another significant impact are higher freshwater temperatures, affecting salmon survival out of the ocean.

Ten of the 15 rivers assessed by DFO in Newfoundland were found to be in the critical zone, with just four in the healthy zone.

Three of the four Labrador rivers assessed were also found to be in the critical zone.