Page 12. MAINE COASTAL NEWS July 2009
Commercial Fishing News
MISCELLANEOUS COMMERCIAL FISHING NEWS
rivers are affected as little as possible while nonnative hatchery and aquaculture geno- salmon.
Continued from Page 11.
we help ensure the salmon have the quality types to Maine’s rivers, the evidence is “sur- In 2008, approximately 2,300 adult fish from
tect it now throughout the Gulf of Maine.” and quantity of habitat that allows them to prisingly strong” that the wild salmon in the newly listed endangered population re-
Endangered status under the ESA will recover and become a healthy and viable Maine are genetically distinct from Canadian turned to spawn. This is an increase over
now apply to all anadromous (sea-run) Atlan- population,” said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., salmon. This supported the scientific foun- recent years, but less than 10 percent of the
tic salmon whose freshwater range covers under secretary of commerce for oceans and dation of the services’ 2000 listing. number required before spawning stocks are
the watersheds from the Androscoggin River atmosphere and NOAA administrator. The fish’s critical habitat — the area thought to be in good condition.
northward along the Maine coast to the In 2000, NOAA and FWS listed as en- needed to support the fish population’s sur- NOAA understands and predicts
Dennys River, an area which includes the dangered all naturally reproducing wild At- vival and recovery — is contained in about changes in the Earth’s environment, from the
Penobscot and Kennebec rivers. It also ap- lantic salmon, as well as river-specific hatch- 12,000 miles of river, stream and estuary habi- depths of the oceans to the surface of the sun,
plies wherever these fish occur in these riv- ery populations returning to small coastal tat and about 300 square miles of lake habitat and conserves and manages our coastal and
ers’ estuaries and marine environment. Maine rivers and their tributaries. As a group, in Maine. This is the first time critical habitat marine resources.
Hatchery fish used to supplement these these were called the Gulf of Maine popula- has been determined for endangered Atlantic
natural populations are also included under tion. A biological review team composed of
this rule. federal and state agency biologists and a
Landlocked salmon and salmon raised in biologist from the Penobscot Indian Nation
Snowe, Collins Announce Grant for
hatcheries for aquaculture are not included in has since showed that salmon in the
the listed population. Androscoggin, Penobscot, and Kennebec Maine Department of Marine
Listed species receive the full protection rivers are also part of the same Gulf of Maine
of the Endangered Species Act, including a population. Today’s action adds them to the
Resources
prohibition against take. Take is defined to population originally listed in 2000.
include harass, harm, pursue, wound, kill, The state of Maine unsuccessfully chal- WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Senators Department of Commerce, will contribute to
trap, capture, or collect. lenged the 2000 listing claiming that there was Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins ensuring the strong future of both our
The listing means that before federal no “species” eligible for protection under the announced that the U.S. Department of coastal communities and livelihoods.”
support or authorization is provided for any Endangered Species Act due to the long Commerce National Oceanic and The study assembled by the Maine
activity that may affect the fish, it would need history of stocking in Maine waters. The Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has Department of Marine Resources, titled the
to be reviewed by federal authorities to en- district court held that the services were awarded $146,749 to the Maine Department Interjurisdictional Fisheries Resource
sure that it doesn’t jeopardize the continued correct in their determination. of Marine Resources in Augusta. The Monitoring Assessment, will conduct
existence of the species or adversely modify In addition, the National Research funding will be used to launch a study to research on a variety of marine life, including
its critical habitat. For instance, operators of Council was charged with examining avail- examine and assess the socio-economic American lobster, Atlantic Herring,
hydro-electric dam facilities on the rivers or able scientific information on the status of habits of multiple species of marine life in the Northern shrimp, sea urchins, halibut, green
tributaries will need to consult with the agen- Atlantic salmon populations in Maine. Fac- Gulf of Maine in order to maintain and crab, and sea scallops. The findings of this
cies to ensure they are not in violation of the tors evaluated included the nature and dis- preserve these valuable resources. research will enhance the management and
law. Others who would need to consult are creteness of salmon populations in Maine “As Mainers, we must pledge to be protection of the Gulf of Maine’s marine
those seeking federal permits for discharges rivers. The council published an interim re- stewards of our beloved rocky shores, the resources.
into these waterways and those seeking per- port in 2002 on the genetic status of Atlantic fishing industries that sustain our coastal
mits for dredging or in-water work related to Salmon in Maine, concluding that North economy, and the marine life that inhabits
bridge construction. American Atlantic salmon are clearly distinct our waters,” said Senators Snowe and
“We will work closely with the state and genetically from European salmon. They also Collins in a joint statement. “These vital
industries to see that economic activities on stated that despite the extensive additions of funds, generously allocated by the
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