Climate: When Rivers Seek a Second Wind

Protecting thermal refuges has become a priority for the survival of Atlantic salmon, a cold-water species particularly vulnerable to rising temperatures due to climate change.

These refuges are areas located in rivers where the water remains significantly colder, often situated at the mouths of small streams fed by underground springs.

Why protect these areas?

Preventing heat stress: When water temperatures exceed 20°C, salmon experience intense physiological stress that can weaken their immune system and, in extreme cases, cause death.

Survival during summer heat waves: During periods of high heat and low water levels, salmon congregate in large numbers in these pockets of cool water to regulate their temperature and conserve energy.

Preserving reproductive capacity: Salmon experiencing less heat stress retain the energy needed to complete their upstream migration and ensure successful reproduction once they reach the spawning grounds. Regulation of sport fishing: Managers, except for Quebec, often close access to fishing near these refuges to avoid adding additional stress (fishing pressure) to fish already weakened by the heat.