New England Atlantic Salmon Programs DPS Delineations (CA) Outer Bay of Fundy Gulf of Maine Central New England 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 GOM CNE LIS Long Island Sound 0 1967 1969 1971 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 Number of Atlantic Salmon
NEW ENGLAND SALMON RESOURCE NASCO Rivers Database Stock Category Number Lost 30 Maintained 6 Threatened With Loss 7 Unknown 2 Total 45 NO Fisheries Recreational or Commercial
THREATS 1) Low marine survival (estuaries and North Atlantic) related to 1) global climate change, 2) predation, 3) shift in ocean ecology. 2 SW Ocean Survival 1.40% 1.20% 1.00% 0.80% 0.60% 0.40% 0.20% 0.00% 196919741979198419891994199920042009 Smolt Year
2) Freshwater survival compromised by reduced habitat access and productivity, and altered thermal and hydrologic regimes (climate change and land use). Connections Conditions Communities
CONNECTIONS Reconnect corridors and ecological linkages
CONDITIONS Temperature and Hydrology Riparian Land Protection Purchase Easement Education Regulation
Temperature, Hydrology, Complexity Remediate Channel Alterations
Water Quality Maine rain is ~ ph 4.6 Stream buffering capacity varies Episodic low ph on many streams Meters Marine Mollusk Shell Additions >> Mark Whiting for Information
COMMUNITIES Restore Diadromous Fish Shad Smelt Alewife, Herring Eel Limit Non-native Fish Remove Spawners Educate to limit illegal Stocking Eliminate Stocking
HATCHERIES LIFE SUPPORT PREVENT EXTINCTION Maintaining genetic legacy Freshwater recruitment
Hatchery by Program Long Island Sound: Pawcatuck River, Connecticut River Hatcheries: CT State (1) CT Private (1), RI State (1) Connecticut River stock Fry stocking Central New England: Merrimack River, Saco River Hatcheries: USFWS (2) Private (1) Penobscot River stock Production and stocking end 2014 and 2015 Gulf of Maine: Androscoggin River to Dennys River Hatcheries: USFWS (2), Private (2), USDA (1) Seven river specific stocks All life stages (egg to adult) stocked Outer Bay of Fundy: Aroostook River, St Croix River Hatcheries: Private (1) St. John River stock Fry stocking
Hatchery Reared Broodstock Wild Juveniles (Captive) Young-of-year, parr and smolts collected from six Maine watersheds. Hatchery Juveniles (Domestic) Juveniles selected from production to broodstock (Domestic / Captive)
Sea-run Broodstock Sea-run returns collected at 1 st Dam Kelt 6 Egg Sources 2012 Families created are (can be) genetically characterized Millions of Eggs 5 4 3 2 1 Sea Run Kelt Domestic Captive 0 LIS CNE GOM PROGRAM
Eyed Egg Planting 1,344,000 eggs were planted in 2012
Stocking 5,758,000 Fry 22,000 Parr 2012 758,000 Smolts
Stocking 5,097 Adults in 2012 Pre-spawn captive reared 257 in Dennys River Primary strategy change Fry to Adult stocking 640 in CNE Captive reared and sea run Remainder Post-spawn broodstock
Integrating Habitat & Hatchery Stock newly accessible streams (culvert replacements, log dam removals, fishways) Stock reaches with large wood additions Stock reaches with clam shell additions Adjust smolt stocking location following dam removals Don t stock reaches with natural reproduction
Program Goals PREVENT EXTINCTION MAINTAIN GENETIC LEGACY MAINTAIN SALMON IN FW COMMUNITY IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY OF FW HABITAT RESTORE SELF SUSTAINING POPULATIONS Objectives Program specific: Juvenile abundance & distribution Smolt production Adult abundance & distribution
Returns to Traps Monitoring Adult Assessments Spawning Surveys Juvenile Assessments
Results of Management Egg planting vs spawning (returns or captive) YOY Parr Relative Ab bundance 4 5 0 1 2 3 Relative Ab bundance 0 1 2 3 4 E Eggs (21) Redds (44) Y E Eggs (19) Redds (70) Y
Results of Management Fry vs egg planting & spawning (returns or captive) Relative Abun ndance 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 YOY c a b Relative Abu undance 0 2 4 6 8 Parr c a b b No Fry (104) No Eggs N-N No Fry N-Y (66) Fry Y-N (63) Y-Y Eggs No Eggs Fry (2) Eggs No Fry (98) (98) No Eggs Eggs (48) Fry (61) (61) No Eggs Fry Eggs N-N No N-Y Fry (48) Y-N Y-Y (28)
Program Goals PREVENT EXTINCTION? MAINTAIN GENETIC LEGACY MAINTAIN SALMON IN FW COMMUNITY? IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY OF FW HABITAT RESTORE SELF SUSTAINING POPULATIONS Program Specific Objectives:?? Juvenile abundance & distribution Adult abundance & distribution?? Genetic diversity Accessible Habitat