Spotlight on Sturgeon ~~~ Spotlight on Rainbow Smelt ~~~ Spotlight on River Herring (See Below) "It is important to note that contemporary abundance levels of Atlantic salmon within the GOM DPS are several orders of magnitude lower than historical abundance estimates. For example, Foster and Atkins (1869) estimated that roughly 100,000 adult salmon returned to the Penobscot River alone before the river was dammed, whereas contemporary estimates of abundance for the entire GOM DPS have rarely exceeded 5,000 individuals in any given year since 1967 (Fay et al., 2006)." - From the Atlantic salmon Federal Endangered Species Listing, June 2009. Photo: Female Atlantic Salmon, trapped at Veazie Dam on Penobscot in 2009. Photo by Maine Dept. of Marine Resources. Maine Dept. of Marine Resources Atlantic salmon trap count summary page

Journal Article Highlights the Ecological Connections Between Atlantic Salmon and other Sea-run Fish on Maine Rivers The recovery of Atlantic salmon on the Penobscot River likely depends on a return of healthy populations of alewives, blueback herring, American shad and other sea-run species. An article in Fisheries (Nov. 2006) explores the historic and current abundance of five species of sea-run fish that are considered to provide important ecological functions that support the different life stages of salmon (for example, migration of adult alewives to inland spawning habitat most likely provided an alternative source of food for known predators of out-migrating Atlantic salmon smolts). Select link to read more... Fisheries, November 2006 NEW! Video of Striped bass feeding on juvenile alewives as they leave Webber Pond (click here for link) During late summer and fall, juvenile alewives leave the ponds and lakes where they were born and make the long journey to the sea where they grow into adult fish over the next four years. As adults, they return up rivers and streams to their natal spawning habitat in the spring and early summer to spawn. During this back and forth journey throughout their life cycle - when alewives are abundant - the fish provide a tremendous forage base for striped bass, freshwater fish, and other wildlife. See the video above to watch striped bass feeding on alewives leaving Webber Pond in the Kennebec watershed. SEE LINKS TO MORE ARTICLES ON RIVER HERRING LIFE HISTORY AND BENEFITS BELOW! NEW! See a video of alewives below the fish ladder at Damariscotta Mills in May 2009 NEW! "A little fish story" from September 2009 National Fisherman Spring Alewife Migrations Anyone interested in seeing what fish runs could be like on the Penobscot River simply need to visit the fish ladder at Damariscotta Mills or the recently restored fishways in Somesville in late May or early June. The spring running of alewives provides ample viewing opportunities to watch thousands upon thousands of fish at the end of their journey from the open sea as they climb up the historic rock and pool fish ladder to spawning habitat in Damariscotta Lake or pass the series of fishways - including a newly restored rock and pool fishway - into Somes Pond. Visitors to the fish ladder and walkways delight in the sight of fish leaping up steep sections of the ladder, resting in pools, and finally slipping through the final passageway into the lake. See below for links to additional information on alewives and the migration of other sea-run fish. Alewife Life Cycle Illustration Photos From 2009 Alewife Festival Spring Migrations on the Kennebec Alewife harvest on the Kennebec Alewife Fact Sheet Penobscot River Sea-Run Fisheries Working Waterfront Story PDF Version Article on Benton Alewife Harvest in the Kennebec JournalArticle on Alewife Migration in Maine Boats Homes and Harbors Magazine by Catherine Schmitt Bangor Daily News Story: Humble alewives gaining biologist's attention More features coming soon!