Only wild salmon returning to Dennys River killed by poachers. Entire broodstock for Pleasant River destroyed after several discovered with swim bladder sarcoma virus. Two Atlantic salmon redds destroyed in lower Kennebec. Thirty seven salmon found dead in Penobscot. Cause of death appears to be cumulative effects of poor fish passage and stress from handling and high water temperatures.
Federal agencies hold public hearings and invite written comment as part of listing process.
Governor King and others say Maine has no wild salmon to save, completely contradicting the scientific facts established in federal status review. Unfortunately, the funds and resources provided by the State of Maine have never been sufficient to meet the plan's benchmarks. Volunteer watershed councils, the core of the plan, still lack the resources they need to do their job. Critical work, like improving fish passage on the Sheepscot and ensuring optimum flows on the Pleasant and Machias are a long way from completion. No delay in completing these tasks can be tolerated given the dire conditions of these salmon runs.