BOSTON – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries have released a draft Atlantic Salmon Recovery plan focusing on the population in the Gulf of Maine region.
The agencies will take comments on the plan through May 31st, 2016.
The plan has a number of initiatives, including restoring connectivity between ocean and freshwater habitats, maintaining genetic diversity in the species, exploring strategies for restoring a wild salmon population in each of the salmon habitat recovery units, maintaining populations and conservation of habitats.
Atlantic salmon reach maturity in marine waters and return to freshwater rivers to spawn.
The Gulf of Maine’s population has decreased since the 1800s, according to NOAA, when the Penobscot River was dammed.
An initial recovery plan was issued in 2005 after the Gulf of Maine population was officially deemed endangered.
Since then, the geography under question has expanded to include more river systems.
Comments on the latest draft plan, the third draft in its iteration, can be submitted to [email protected].
The document is available on both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife and NOAA Fisheries websites.
About CapeCod.com NewsCenter
Speak Your Mind