An Act To Improve Survival Rates of Salmon and Other Migratory Fish Transitioning from Freshwater to Saltwater Environments
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1241
Committee: Marine Resources
Sponsors: DODGE, GRATWICK, AUSTIN, BEEBE-CENTER, BLUME, HARNETT, INGWERSEN, PLUECKER, CARSON

Legislative Document
No. 1241
H.P. 902
House of Representatives, March 14, 2019
An Act To Improve Survival Rates of Salmon and Other Migratory 
Fish Transitioning from Freshwater to Saltwater Environments
Reference to the Committee on Marine Resources suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative DODGE of Belfast.
Cosponsored by Senator GRATWICK of Penobscot and
Representatives: AUSTIN of Skowhegan, BEEBE-CENTER of Rockland, BLUME of York, 
HARNETT of Gardiner, INGWERSEN of Arundel, McCREA of Fort Fairfield, PLUECKER 
of Warren, Senator: CARSON of Cumberland.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA c. 606, sub-c. 2 is enacted to read:
SUBCHAPTER 2
SMOLTIFICATION SUCCESS RESEARCH
§6151.  Smoltification success research program
The commissioner shall establish a smoltification success research program, referred 
to in this section as "the program," within the department.  The purpose of this program is 
to develop reliable scientific information for use in management of pollution control 
efforts and pollution licensing decisions.
1.  Research; data collection.  The program must include investigation of external 
influences on smoltification success and metamorphosis success of nonsalmonid 
anadromous species and smolt migration success.  Specific attention must be given to 
evaluating the effects of industrial and sewage treatment plant effluents and other 
pollutants on the timing of smoltification.  The program must collect smoltification data 
and ensure continuity of data collection.
2.  Policy investigations.  The commissioner shall develop in the program the 
capacity to systematically analyze the effects of a variety of chemicals found in effluents 
under subsection 1 on the timing of the development and physical health of smolts and 
recommendations for conservation and management options.  The analysis must include 
the effluence of biological substances such as pheromones from land-based aquaculture.  
Analysis of these effects must be conducted cooperatively with the industries and 
communities that discharge effluents into rivers that are significant for Atlantic salmon 
and other diadromous fish species.
3.  Cooperation.  The commissioner shall cooperatively develop and coordinate the 
program with the University of Maine.
4.  Report.  The commissioner shall prepare and submit to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over marine resources matters an annual 
report on the success of the program.
5.  Funds.  All federal and state funds obtained by the department for smoltification 
success research must be used to achieve the objectives of this subchapter.
SUMMARY
This bill directs the Commissioner of Marine Resources to establish a smoltification 
success research program to investigate the external influences on smoltification success 
and metamorphosis success of nonsalmonid anadromous species and smolt migration 
success.  Specific attention must be given to evaluating the effects of industrial and 
sewage treatment plant effluents and other pollutants on the timing of smoltification.  The 
program must include the capacity to systematically analyze the effect of a variety of 
chemicals found in effluents on the timing of the development of and physical health of 
smolts and recommendations for conservation and management options.  The analysis 
must include the effluence of biological substances such as pheromones from land-based 
aquaculture.  Analysis of these effects must be conducted cooperatively with the 
industries and communities that discharge into rivers that are significant for Atlantic 
salmon and other diadromous fish species.