Atlantic salmon are highly valued in Canada for cultural and recreational reasons. However, the species is currently listed as endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). Researchers from Dalhousie University, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and the Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) used acoustic telemetry and genome techniques to study juvenile salmon as they moved from rivers to the sea.

Several threats are being investigated, including the impact of viruses on salmon migrations throughout Atlantic Canada and Quebec, interactions with aquaculture net-pens, and the behaviour of hatchery fish. Results will help determine whether aquaculture, hatcheries or the natural environment hinder the recovery of salmon stocks.