An example of this problem of lack of resources is the work of the committee of stakeholders which has been struck to address the Inner Bay issues. Budgets for fisheries conservation and management are losing ground, not gaining, even though the situation is becoming more and more critical. The ASF release said that ASF and Trout Unlimited have filed a lawsuit in Washington, D.C., trying to force the US government to protect immediately Maine's wild salmon populations under the Endangered Species Act. The Big Salmon River Association has been tireless in its work for the Inner Bay. These fish have been tracked and the data will be analyzed.
Tracking is intended to help answer the questions surrounding the devastation of the stocks.
This project has already proved successful, because it did track fish in an ocean environment, but it is a very expensive venture. Its expansion will require a consistent, large source of money but the scientific rewards from tracking salmon into the ocean will be huge. ASF, through the support of the Molson and McCormick Tribune Foundations, has facilitated the research thus far. An important thrust here is the sale of the Year 2000 calendar, which is sponsored by the Investors Group. The proceeds will go to the Inner Bay research.