DSF Assumes Smelt Assessment Responsibility

Downeast Salmon Federation Director Dwayne Shaw announced State of Maine Dept. of Marine Resources, Bureau of Sea Run Fisheries and Habitat has asked DSF to assume a direct role in assessing the smelt situation from Stonington to Kittery after the 2013 Fall closure. “ The assessment period,” according to Shaw, will probably take 4-5 years to complete and will look at such criteria as health of the fish, size of the population, habitat, and habitat changes.”

With it’s background and experience in restoring Atlantic Salmon and habitat in Washington County, and positive spillover effects for other species such as Alewives, Tommycod, and Smelts, DSF is a natural choice to study and make recommendations for the restoration of one of Maine’s heritage fisheries.

“We’ll not only be looking at this study in a scientific way such as size and scale sampling along with water quality, part of the study will be anecdotal involving interviews with individuals who have “smelted” for many winters in the various streams and rivers along Maine’s miles of coastline. We’ll be documenting catch and data where we can, from dip netting to hooking and the small commercial netting as well.”

One of the major areas of concern will be habitat changes and the overall opportunity for spawning. Water quality and acidification, always an issue to be investigated will be studied as well as the ability of the smelts to navigate large or small waterways in their spawning process. Waterflow restriction from dams, culvert design, diversion of creeks, siltation etc. will also be documented.