Atlantic salmon is an endangered species, and the last remaining populations are found in the state of Maine.

New recovery plan launched for endangered Atlantic salmon

UNITED STATES
Saturday, February 16, 2019, 02:50 (GMT + 9)

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries released a new final recovery plan for endangered Atlantic salmon, whose only remaining populations can be found in the State of Maine.

The recovery plan guides the species’ recovery, and outlines specific approaches to reduce threats to the species, identifies specific timetables for action, and estimates costs to achieve recovery goals.

“We are excited that the plan is being released in 2019 since it is the International Year of the Salmon,” said Kimberly Damon-Randall, NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Region’s acting deputy regional administrator.

Atlantic salmon grow to maturity in marine waters and return to freshwater rivers and streams to spawn. The Gulf of Maine population has been declining since the 1800s, when an estimated 100,000 adult salmon returned to the Penobscot River alone.

Since 1967, there have been very few years when more than 5,000 salmon have returned to Maine. In 2017, just over 1,000 salmon returned to spawn in Maine rivers. Today, natural spawning of returning fish is supplemented by a conservation hatchery program designed to preserve the genetic diversity of the Gulf of Maine population and increase abundance.

Freshwater range of Atlantic salmon in the United States represented by three distinct population segments. Only the Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment currently support wild populations  (NOAA)

This plan replaces a 2005 plan that addressed the DPS listed as endangered in 2009, a list that was then expanded to include most of the Androscoggin, Kennebec, and Penobscot basins.

Salmon Habitat Recovery Units (SHRU's) within the GOM DPS (NOAA)

The 2019 recovery plan includes all remaining wild populations of Atlantic salmon that occur from the Androscoggin River in Southwestern Maine to the Dennys River in Eastern Maine.

"The recovery of endangered Atlantic salmon links the traditions of the people of Maine and the future of our rivers and communities," said Sherry White, assistant regional director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "This plan supports our efforts with the state, tribes, industry, towns and others to restore this iconic fish and its habitat, and, for many, a way of life."

The recovery plan provides a vision for Atlantic salmon recovery that includes long-term objectives and criteria, research and management actions, and time and cost estimates to recover and conserve the species in its native habitats.

Atlantic Salmon (NOAA)

The plan incorporates new scientific information and shows the following objectives:

• Enhance connectivity between ocean and freshwater habitats;
• Maintain the genetic diversity of populations over time;
• Increase the number of spawning adults through the hatchery program;
• Increase the number of spawning adults through freshwater production;
• Increase survival in marine and estuary habitats by increasing our understanding of these environments;
• Use adaptive management to modify future activities based on increased current knowledge;
• Build awareness and engage with partners and the public; and
• Coordinate partner efforts to provide the greatest benefit to salmon.

2019 was declared the "International Year of the Salmon" (IYS), an initiative that aims to bring people together to share and develop knowledge more effectively, raise awareness, and take action to build resilience for salmon and people around the northern hemisphere. Under this initiative´s framework,  research and outreach will continue through 2022.

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