The following column is from “Tight Lines” a newsletter of Merrymeeting Bay Trout Unlimited and was sent to us by the author, Ed Baum.

The controversy surrounding the November 2000 federal listing of Maine Atlantic salmon as an Endangered Species led Congress to request the National Academies of Science to review the available scientific information on the status of Atlantic salmon in Maine. The Academies assigned this task to the National Research Council, which appointed a special 13-member "Committee on Atlantic Salmon in Maine." The Committee consists of distinguished scientists from 8 states (Texas, California, Oregon, Minnesota, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Maine), 2 Canadian provinces (Ontario and Newfoundland), and 1 European country (Sweden). The Committee's tasks are: 1) to submit an interim report addressing the genetic makeup of wild salmon in Maine, and 2) to submit a final report synthesizing all available information on the biology of Maine salmon, causes for population declines, threats to their survival, options for salmon recovery in Maine, and estimated costs of those options.

Committee Completes Genetics Report in January 2002

The Committee made 2 visits to Maine (June 12-13 and September 20-21, 2001) where members toured the Downeast salmon rivers, visited selected facilities involved in current salmon recovery efforts (e.g., Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery) , and listened to presentations from various representatives of business and industry (e.g., agriculture, aquaculture, etc.) which may potentially be affected by the ESA listing. They also received testimony from numerous State and Federal agency employees and many non governmental representatives (including the author of The Biologist's Notebook). Following its comprehensive review of all available scientific information pertaining to the often controversial genetics questions surrounding Maine's Atlantic salmon, the Committee issued its genetics report in January 2002. In case you missed the news a couple months ago, here are a few of the Committee's conclusions in the genetics report:

"Maine has wild salmon populations in the 8 DPS rivers that are as divergent from Canadian populations, and from each other, as expected among wild populations elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere.”

"Maine salmon are not hatchery mixtures but rather show the typical metapopulation structure that characterizes wild populations of salmon in places where stocking has been absent or insignificant.”

"Collectively, the data are persuasive on these points, from which we conclude that the natural salmon spawning in Maine's DPS-designated rivers are 'Maine salmon' not just 'salmon in Maine'.”

The complete report may be purchased (for $18) from the National Research Council or read for free on the Council's Internet website: http:llwww.nap.edu/catalog/10273.html

Fourth Meeting Recently Concluded in Portland

On April 18-19, 2002, the Committee on Atlantic Salmon in Maine held its fourth meeting (the third was held in mid-January in Boston). Day one was spent on a bus tour of the Kennebec, Sheepscot, and Ducktrap watersheds where Committee members heard presentations pertaining to ongoing and/or potential salmon habitat restoration and population recovery efforts on those drainages. Day two was spent at the Doubletree Hotel in Portland, listening to presentations about salmon recovery efforts in the Kennebec and Penobscot watersheds and water quality monitoring in Maine salmon rivers by the DEP. The Committee also heard presentations concerning the Greenland fishery in 2001, issues relating to forestry and Atlantic salmon habitat protection, and Project SHARE habitat protection and restoration activities on the Downeast Rivers.

The Committee’s Work Is Far From Complete

During the recent meeting in Portland, it became clear to this writer that the National Research Council has much more research to conduct in the next 9 months, since the Committee on Atlantic Salmon in Maine has received little or no information pertaining to ongoing and potential Atlantic salmon restoration programs on the Saco, Androscoggin, Union, Saint Croix, Aroostook, and Meduxnekeag rivers and Prestile Stream. It must be emphasized that the Committee's "Statement of Task" does not specifically mention any individual rivers - their charge is to review all available scientific information on the status of Maine Atlantic salmon populations, and, where relevant, in adjacent areas.

The Committee has not scheduled a 5th visit to Maine, but, if they do we should all urge them to visit the Saco, Androscoggin, Union, Saint Croix and Aroostook County rivers to gather pertinent scientific information pertaining to those watersheds, and to speak with and those individuals involved in Atlantic salmon recovery efforts at the grass roots level!

May, 2002
Ed Baum, Fisheries Consultant
Atlantic Salmon Unlimited

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