Atlantic Salmon Acoustic Tracking and Predation Events in Bay of Fundy

99 farmed Atlantic salmon were implanted with ultrasonic acoustic tags and tracked for approximately 4 months following an experimental release in the Bay of Fundy. The data captures fish movement patterns, mortality events, and predation by warm-bodied predators detected via tag temperature sensors. Most fish (72.7%) were predated shortly after release, with a mean time to predation of 57.9 hours.

Use Cases

• Analyze fish movement patterns to identify initial dispersal choices (inshore vs. out to sea) and time spent at the release site.
• Model time to predation using temperature sensor data from tags to assay predation events by warm-bodied predators.
• Study site fidelity by quantifying the proportion of time budget spent at the release site and observations in nearby river estuaries.

Strengths

• Data is based on a controlled experimental release of 99 acoustically tagged fish, providing a precise sample size.
• Tracking occurred over a ~4 month period, capturing seasonal migratory tendencies and long-term fate.
• Predation events are assayed using specific sensor data (tag temperature), providing a direct measurement method.

Limitations

• The sample size of 99 fish is relatively small, limiting statistical power for subgroup analyses.
• Findings are specific to a small-scale escape event (N < 100) in the Bay of Fundy, which may not generalize to other regions or large-scale escapes.
• Data collection method (acoustic telemetry) is dependent on array coverage and may have spatial detection gaps.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Coastal Ecosystem Science Division.

Collection Method

Experimental release of acoustically tagged farmed salmon, tracked via an established acoustic array.

Time Range

Approximately 4 months following the experimental release.

Freshness

Data was published in April 2025 and last updated on the platform in March 2026.

Geography

Bay of Fundy, Canada, including nearby river estuaries.