June 23, 2014 — The Maine Department of Marine Resources Division of Sea-run Fisheries and Habitat staff recently concluded annual assessments of Atlantic salmon smolt populations in the Narraguagus River, the East Machias River, the Piscataquis River, and the Sheepscot River. The work will help the Department and its partners at the state and federal level understand the status of Atlantic salmon and the quality of habitat in Maine waters.
The four rivers are chosen because their geographic range provides an indicator of Atlantic salmon and habitat health along the coast. A smolt is the life stage of Atlantic salmon that transitions from freshwater river and stream habitats to saltwater coastal and open ocean areas.
Listed as an Endangered Species since 2000, the Atlantic salmon is one of Maine’s iconic fish species, long the favourite of recreational anglers. However, factors including overexploitation, degradation of water quality, and damming of rivers have been associated with the decline in abundance. The populations of Atlantic salmon present in the Gulf of Maine represent the last wild populations of US Atlantic salmon.
“Our efforts to preserve and protect the Atlantic salmon population in Maine include the spring trapping and evaluation of both wild and hatchery grown smolts to assess their abundance and related management actions, as well as adult returns,” said Oliver Cox, Director of DMR’s Division of Sea-run Fisheries and Habitat. “Our objective is to increase the population of smolts through management actions including stocking and habitat restoration. Data from these assessments, which will be reviewed over the next year, will help us determine future management actions.”
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