Initially, the significant declines were certainly caused by commercial fishing, offshore bycatch and the various ways in which the territory and natural resources were used. Floating logs down rivers, for example, a practice used for many years although not recently, seriously damaged rivers. The consequences are still being felt today.
Aquaculture is certainly an important factor. There is also the whole issue of the territory, including forest management, for which practices are very different in Quebec than they are in New Brunswick. Best practices should be introduced and even improved to limit the impact of forest, municipal and farming activities on rivers.