Salmon ban having zero impact on outfitter business, say owners

A federal ban on catching, keeping, and cooking Atlantic salmon from New Brunswick rivers is heading into its third season. But according tosome fishing guides,the ban is having little to no impact on their business.

"The first year we said 'okay this might hurt the business,'" said Tyler Coughlin of Country Haven Lodges. "But when it comes right down to it, nobody really cared."

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Coughlin, whooffers guided fly-fishingtrips on theMiramichiRiver,said the majority of hisbusiness'sclientele comes from the United Statesand Europe. Since the ban came into effect in 2015, they only lost one client, he said.

"And in the U.S. they support hook-and-release a lot," saidCoughlin. "Becausethey've seen rivers collapse.

"They worry more in the U.S. about our rivers than the locals around here do."

Coughlin's statements were echoed by other outfitters further down theMiramichiRiver .

"There's much to fishing besides bringing the fish home," said Debbie Norton of Upper Oxbow Outdoor Adventures.

"I have some chaps here fromEnglandcurrently, and one man hasn't caught a fish, and hisresponseis 'Oh, Debbie, we're having a ball, we're with our friends, we're seeing new sights, and it's spectacular.'

"So it's a whole experience, and the fishing is what brings them."

Mixed messagefrom the province

Despite the federal ban,the officialTourismNewBrunswick website still advertises: "You've just caught a prized salmon and can't wait to sample it. Try this rustic cooking method right on the shore."The websitealso offers a recipe for cooking the banned fish.

But Nortonand Coughlin saidthey haven't had to changetheir advertising, even though the province sends amixed marketing message.

"And in fact 2017 is shaping up to be the best season that I've ever had,"said Norton. "We're hoping for a time that the fish stock will be buildup again."

"When that happens it will be tremendous," he added. "But right now,from a business point of view, this hasn't hurt us at all."