U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins (R-Maine) and U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud (D-Maine) made the following statement regarding today’s decision by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to designate Atlantic salmon populations from the Androscoggin River to the Dennys River, including anadromous salmon inhabiting the Kennebec and Penobscot Rivers, as an endangered species. By adding the three largest rivers in Maine, this decision will encompass nearly two-thirds of the State, changing geographic scope from its current 2,000 square miles to 19,000 square miles.
“Today’s decision to expand the endangered species listing of Atlantic salmon to encompass the massive Androscoggin, Kennebec, and Penobscot River basins turns a blind eye to the monumental efforts of the state of Maine to restore thousands of miles of ecosystem, ignores the mortality of the species at sea, and fails to specifically address the adverse economic impacts an endangered species listing of this magnitude can have on an already fragile economy. This listing could not come at a worse time for the many businesses within the protected watershed areas who are struggling amidst a global economic recession and will now have to worry about significant compliance costs,” said the lawmakers in a joint statement. “We strongly support the revival of the Atlantic Salmon to its historic levels and have consistently supported the State’s aggressive restoration strategy, and are deeply concerned that this announcement today may unfortunately prevent the collaborative efforts that have produced landmark recovery efforts.”
“While we strongly disagree with this announcement by the federal agencies and believe it is seriously flawed, it is incumbent upon federal agencies that they provide the resources to implement the species recovery plans. The federal agencies must expeditiously provide staff and resources to facilitate the cumbersome permitting process for Maine’s businesses, and provide long-term support for restoration activities for Maine’s long-term goal to return to a sustainable population level of Atlantic salmon.”
Read the complete press release at Congressman Michaud’s site.