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New Brunswick to review plan to eradicate invasive smallmouth bass from lake

Smallmouth Bass angled from Miramichi River on Sept. 1, 2019 are seen in this handout photo. A coalition of conservation groups wants the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to agree to a plan to wipe-out a population of smallmouth bass in order to protect salmon in New Brunswick's revered Miramichi River. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Nathan Wilbur, Atlantic Salmon Federation

A plan to wipe out a population of smallmouth bass from a New Brunswick lake in order to protect salmon in the Miramichi River has taken another step forward.

A coalition of conservation groups were told this week to register their salmon-protection strategy for a review by New Brunswick’s Department of Environment and Local Government.

The department can waive further study and proceed with conditions, order a comprehensive environmental impact assessment or reject the project.

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The group is still working to get federal approval to eliminate the voracious, invasive species using a toxin called rotenone.

A report prepared for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in 2008 recommended complete eradication of the smallmouth bass from the lake.

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The group was hoping to get approval for their project this year, but now say they’ll probably have to wait until 2021.

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