Milestones to Restoring Salmon in the Meduxnekeag River by Sharri Venno

Home , Birch River (Maine), Meduxnekeag River, Wolastoq

Siqon - March 2021 Clarissa Sabattis – Tribal Chief Susan Young - Editor

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Milestones to Restoring Milestones to Restoring Salmon in the Atlantic Salmon in the Meduxnekeag River by Sharri Venno Meduxnekeag River. . . . . 1 >< ©> During the summer of 2020, The World’s Forgotten HBMI completed another stretch Fishes ...... 2 of Instream habitat restoration Skitkomiq 2021 ...... 3 along the main stem of the Spring Word Search ...... 3 Meduxnekeag, from just south of Lowery Bridge upstream to the Spring Ephemerals - Spring southerly border of Maliseet What? ...... 4 Riverside Village. This means EPA Science Matters ...... 5 habitat has been restored along the entire length of the main stem Fun Facts About Atlantic bordered by tribal land! (photo Salmon ...... 7 left). We’re Moving! ...... 10 Puzzle Answers © An Old Passamaquoddy >< > This Story/Legend About Maple 11 spring, HBMI, Syrup ...... Maliseet Nation If we look 100 years ahead and back . . .what did we do to Conservation ensure our community remained healthy? Council (MNCC), We washed our hands. Natural Resources and our We wore a face mask. (207) 532-4273 respective We watched our distance. 1-800-564-8524 (Maine only) We got vaccinated. federal partners, 1-800-545-8524 the US Fax 207-532-6883 Environmental Environmental Planning Protection Agency (EPA) and Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans Sharri Venno - ext. 215 (DFO) will begin another season of collecting very small samples or “fin clips” Natural Resources of tissue from salmon living in a number of tributaries of the Wolastoq/St John, Matthew Edberg- ext. 220 including the Meduxnekeag. We take very good care of the fish we catch (and

Water Resources then release) using special protocols including a natural anesthetic made from Rhonda Smart ext. 212 clove oil! The tissue samples will be used to study genetic diversity in Wolastoq/St John salmon. This will help us ensure that we don’t lose genetic Sam St. John - ext. 221 Angie Reed 207-694-0490 diversity as we make salmon restoration decisions. The Meduxnekeag currently hosts only a very small population of salmon which resides across the border in Natural Resources New Brunswick, Canada. Real Estate Director COVID-19 vaccines are important to help stop the pandemic. Sue Young - ext. 202 To increase our chances of collecting enough tissue samples from this The vaccine will not give you the virus. population to make the study useful, we plan to install one or two “smolt For more information, visit CDC.gov/vaccines/covid-19 Follow us on wheels.” A smolt wheel - also called a rotary screw trap (see photo above) Facebook Continued page 2 Page 2 Skitkomiq Nutacomit Siqoniw Siqoniw Skitkomiq Nutacomit Page 11 The World’s Forgotten Fishes An Old Passamaquoddy Story/Legend About Maple Sap (Sonawop) Valuing freshwater fish is critical for people and nature. Long ago, the Creator made and gave many gifts to When Koluskap reported this to the Creator, it was The World’s Forgotten Fishes report is a celebration of the people to help them during their life. The decided that it was again time that the people needed freshwater fishes - and it’s a call to action too. Creator made the lives of the Passamaquoddy People another lesson to understand the Creator’s ways.

THE WORLD’S very good, with plenty of food to gather, grow, The Creator instructed Koluskap to fill the maple trees Rivers, lakes and wetlands are among the most biodiverse FORGOTTEN FISHES and hunt. The Maple tree at that time was one of with water. So Koluskap made a large bucket from places on earth. They cover less than 1% of the planet’s these wonderful and special gifts birch bark and went to the river to get water. He total surface, yet they’re home to almost a quarter of all from the Creator. The sap added water, and he added more water, until the sap vertebrate species - including over half of all the world’s was as thick and sweet as was like that of water. Some say he added a fish species. honey. All you had to do was measure of water for each day break the end off of a branch between moons, or nearly 40 times It’s an extraordinary fact: 51% of all known species of fish and he syrup would flow out. what is was as thick syrup. After a live in freshwater - 18,075 species. And more are being In those days Koluskap would while the People began to get up discovered all the time. travel from native village to because the

native village to keep an eye on But few people have any idea of the unimaginable diversity the People for the Creator. One that swims below the surface of the world’s freshwater day Koluskap came to an ecosystems or how critical these undervalued and abandoned village. The overlooked freshwater fishes are to the health of people and village was in disrepair, the nature around the world. fields were overgrown, and  Freshwater fishes account for almost 1/4 of all the the fires had gone cold. He world’s vertebrate species; wondered what had happened to https://www.poison.org/home  Freshwater fishes provide food for 200 the People. He looked around million people; and around until he heard a  And livelihoods for 60 million; strange sound, he could tell that is was the  Recreational fishing is valued at over US $100 sound of many people moaning. The moaning did not sound like people in pain billion per year;  But 1/3rd of freshwater fishes are but more like the sound of contentment.

threatened with extinction; To read this report in it’s entirety go to: As he got closer, he saw a large stand of beautiful  And 80 species are already extinct. https://www.panda.org/discover/our_focus/ maple trees. As he got closer still, he saw that all the freshwater_practice/the world’s_forgotten_fishes/ Promoting thriving populations of freshwater fishes and the people were lying on their backs under the trees with ecosystems within which they thrive is a priority for the the end of a branch broken off and dripping maple World Wildlife Fund and the 15 organizations and alliances syrup into their mouths. The maple syrup had fattened that produced this report. them up so much and made them so lazy that they could barely move.

Koluskap told them to get up and go back to their village and to re-kindle the fires and repair the village. But the people did not listen. They told him that they (continued) Restoring Salmon in the Meduxnekeag were content to lie there and enjoy the maple syrup. is fishing gear that you set in naturalresources.maliseets.com/newsletters-2 the stream in early spring to catch  Fall 2017 - Fish Habitat Restoration on the North MAPLE SYRUP FUN FACTS young salmon or Branch of the Meduxnekeag River “smolts” as they migrate to the sea.  Fall 2018 - Salmon Found in the Meduxnekeag  Native Americans were the first to discover  Maple syrup is more expensive than oil  Fall 2018 - Maliseet Nation Restoration of Sea maple syrup  You can detect fake syrup using a freezer Stay tuned to learn how successful we are! Run Fish in the Beautiful Flowing River  Maple syrup capital of the world is Canada,  It’s full of youthful antioxidants  Summer 2019 - Fyke Netting For Atlantic Salmon with Vermont the highest US producer Check out past issues of our newsletter for more on Smolts  It takes 40 gallons of tree sap to make one Check out the website below for more details these projects. They can be found on our webpage:  Winter 2019 - Salmon Genomics and eDNA gallon of syrup https://craves.everybodyshops.com/10-fun-  Maple isn’t used just for syrup facts-you-never-knew-about-maple-syrup/ Page 10 Skitkomiq Nutacomit Siqoniw Siqoniw Skitkomiq Nutacomit Page 3

Fun Facts about Amazing Atlantic Salmon continued Skitkomiq 2021 In the past we’ve featured :  Fish activities As you know 2020 was a year full of Why are hatcheries raising salmon? Why are fish ladders constructed?  Stories with tribal elders cancellations, social distancing, and more. Salmon are raised in hatcheries to supplement Fish passage is essential for adult salmon to be able to  Native crafts Unfortunately we were not able to hold natural production in rivers. U.S. Atlantic salmon are travel upriver to spawn and for salmon smolts to be Skitkomiq  Various Water Quality Activities our annual Skitkomiq Culture & endangered and are currently unable to produce enough able to travel down river to reach the sea. A fish ladder, 2021  Medicinal Plants and tree identification Science Camp. The good news is we’re juveniles under natural conditions in the rivers to support or fishway, is often constructed to help salmon swim  Archaeology working on a plan to make this year’s their populations. Therefore, juveniles are raised in upstream around a dam or a natural barrier that might  Canoeing prevent or impede progress to spawning grounds. camp better than ever.  hatcheries to various stages (i.e., fry, fingerling, parr, and Harvesting Ash smolt) to enhance survival at early life Downstream passage of migrating smolts and We are putting together a camp with  And more . . . stages. Then they are stocked in the some post-spawned adults past barriers is both virtual and in person activities for For more information about the camp, to sign rivers so that they can migrate to sea sometimes provided by constructing a tribal members aged 10 to 15. All up or suggest some activities, then return to spawn after a few years. bypass structure or by allowing sufficient in-person activities will adhere to Covid-19 please reach out to Stocking helps maintain endangered amounts of water to spill over a dam. guidelines. Rhonda Smart 207-541-4838 or [email protected]

Sam St. John at 207-267-0911 [email protected]. populations so they don’t go extinct. What Was the Presidential Salmon? What we need from you are ideas for to what we This gives scientists and managers more Before the decline of Atlantic salmon, should include in this year’s camp. You can also reach out to us via our Facebook page. time to figure out how to restore anglers competed annually to land the thriving populations to Gulf of Maine largest spring salmon. The Presidential Salmon rivers again. Tradition was born out of a Penobscot River Spring How many of the young salmon competition when, in 1912, Karl Anderson sent his released from hatcheries come back as adults? winning 22-pound salmon to President Taft. The Word Search Puzzle From 2010-2015, releases of hatchery-raised Atlantic tradition was suspended due to low salmon abundance salmon smolt to supplement natural production in the in 1992. President George H. W. Bush was the last streams of the Gulf of Maine resulted in adult President to receive a Presidential salmon. spawning returns of approximately 0.08-0.71%. This low For more information about salmon or Find the hidden Maliseet and English return rate is the result of numerous factors including other fun facts check out: words in this puzzle at right high mortality in the river from downstream passage barriers and low marine survival. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/ outreach-and-education/fun-facts-about-amazing -atlantic-salmon Maliseet English Elankiyahsok Petal Pipsissewa Kakehkipokahkil Here are some Kakskimuhkas Iris pictures of the Kisuskan Sunflower We’re Moving! building in progress. Kiwhosuwasq Flagroot Top photo shows Mahsus Fiddlehead main entrance Muhlehpon Trout Lily looking towards the west. It looks a bit Pesqahsuwehsok Flower different now. Pomuhseimyamkewey Dandelion In case you haven’t heard the news, HBMI’s Natural Grass Resources Department is moving out of Administration Pskihq Bottom photo Jack in the Pulpit to it’s own building! shows south end of Pukcinsqehsuwi-wasis

Our new offices are located up on the hill by the big red building. It is being Sakomawi-Mali Maksonol Lady Slipper barn overlooking the Recognition Day Field. The prepped for siding. Sewahpuksok Sorrel Once we’re in we’ll structure is made up of 8 recycled shipping containers set Wiphulaksons Bloodroot on a full concrete foundation. It’s still being finished share pictures of the but we hope to be moving in soon! Our telephone finished building. Wisawahtuwehkahk Buttercup ! numbers and emails will remain the same so you will still Stay tuned Wisawkeskil Goldthread be able to reach us.

Page 4 Skitkomiq Nutacomit Siqoniw Siqoniw Skitkomiq Nutacomit Page 9 Spring Ephemerals - Spring What??? Spring Ephemerals (continued) Sessileleaf Belwort (Uvularia sessifolia) is common in Spring is here - at least that’s what the calendar says. As sun. Fly honeysuckle blooms earlier than the non-native before other shrubs put out their leaves. It is often seen Maine. It is a member of the lily family with yellow growing along dirt roads and well-trodden trails. The the snow melts get ready to start hunting Maine’s native cousin with white tubular flowers. The local variety has flowers that hang down toward the ground. Bellwort woodland wildflowers. But don’t wait too long, a lot of a round stem. The invasive honeysuckle has a stem that white flowers have large sterile, bee attractive flowers on can be found in forests all over the eastern half of the the outside and smaller blooms with stamen and pistil on these beauties come and go in a flash and you’ll miss is more square. United States. They are not very showy, them. the inner side of the cluster. It is a favorite browse for It’s an important wildflower species. Hummingbirds you may have walked by them many both moose and deer. Hobblebush gets its names So just what is a spring ephemeral? According to like it. It’s an important food for bees who like it times without spotting them. This plant because its low lying Wikipedia an ephemeral plant is one marked by short life because it comes out earlier than other flowering plants. also goes by a number of common branches tend to root where cycles. The word ephemeral actually means transitory or After blooming the plant has little red berries that are names such as Straw Lily, Wild Oats they touch the ground quickly fading. Therefore the term, spring ephemeral, eaten by many birds such as robins, goldfinches, and Merrybells. (Photo middle right) creating loops to trip on. refers to perennial plants that emerge quickly in the catbirds, turkeys and ruffed grouse. (photo bottom right) Dwarf Ginseng (Panax trifolius) looks Hikers have also used it as spring and die back to their underground parts after a like a miniature version of its cousin, emergency toilet paper due short growth spurt and reproduction phase. Some Red Trillium (Trillium undulatum) is a common sight in to it’s extra large sturdy the early Spring. They usually appear about the time American ginseng. The medicinal plants such as goldthread and bloodroot are American strain has medicinal leaves. (photo middle left) considered ephemerals. robins return each Spring. It’s pretty flower gives off a nasty stench to value while the dwarf does not. For more information on spring These plants and flowers emerge quickly when the sun draw in the flies that are needed to It prefers to grow in damp ephemerals or wildflowers in begins baking the bare earth before the surrounding pollinate it. That’s how it gets the areas. The flowers are tiny, just general check out the websites trees and shrubs nickname Stinking Benjamin or Wet a few millimeters wide, lasting listed below: start absorbing all Dog Trillium. You may also know it just over a week. (Photo bottom the light from the as Purple Trillium and Red or Purple left) www.maineaudubon.org/news/ sun. Some flowers Wakerobin. (photo top right) elementary-connections-spring- Trout Lilies (Eryhtonium wildflowers are not the americanum) are named for their flashiest blossoms Painted Trillium (Trillium erectum) is a cousin of the red trillium is mottled brown leaves, that www.wildflower.org/ around but with a resemble brook trout. They collections/collection.php? little searching much daintier than the red and is often referred to as the Smiling have the typical lily shape with collection=ss_02 you’ll be treated to large leaves and a single, a variety of shapes, sizes and Wakerobin. As with all trillium https://en.wikipedia.org/ they are made up of threes - 3 central flower that points to wiki/Ephemeral_plant) colors. Some like the Red the ground. They’re a very Trillium put out fairly large leaves and 3 petals for each blossom. (photo bottom left) short-blooming lasting no more than a week or two. red flowers, while the Trout lilies also go by a number of names including Trailing Arbutus puts out Trailing Arbutus (Epigaea Yellow, American or Eastern Trout Lily, Yellow tiny pinkish white flowers at repens) is sometimes called a Mayflower Dogtooth Violet and Adders Tongue. (photo top left) ground level. in Maine, and is one of the earliest wildflowers to bloom in Maine. The Goldthread (Coptis trifolia) gets its name not from its While these flowers are blooms but from its bright yellow roots. Many Native beautiful, it is best to enjoy small, fragrant flowers are everywhere and once you know what to look for, Americans chew the root to treat mouth sores, All photos in this article are courtesy of the them where you find them. thereby giving it the nickname canker root. It is also Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Most blooms do not survive very long and the simple they are easy to find. They like well-drained, slightly acidic soils found sometimes used as an eyewash. It has little white www.wildflowers.org act of picking them can kill the plant or keep it from flowers and is related to the buttercup. (photo bottom flowering for many years. Many of these ephemerals are in any pine forest. The leaves are large, evergreen and Individual Photo credits are as follows: leathery. (photo top left) right) also considered medicinal plants and should only be Bennie Bengston - Wood anemone and Sessile Bellwort harvested under the guidance of an elder or medicine Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia) grows on the Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensus) gets it’s name from Stephanie Brundage - Painted Trillium person. forest floor in thick bunches. It is sometimes known as it’s orange rhizome and the reddish sap that oozes Alan Cressler - Dwarf Ginseng and Fly Honeysuckle from the roots when broken. You may have noticed This is by no means a list of all the ephemerals you might “windflower” because the slightest breeze makes it Lynn Crosby Gammill - Bloodroot tremble. The small white flowers stay shut on rainy days bloodroot blooming when you are heading to your Thomas Muller - Hobblebush find in and around Maine, it’s a list of those you’re most favorite fiddlehead spots since it likes to grow in moist likely to see. Some favorites found on tribal lands are: and at night. Below the flower, there’s usually a whorl Christine Orr - Trailing arbutus with three branches bearing three leaves apiece. A woods. (Photo top right) Doug Sherman - Trout Lily and Red Trillium Fly Honeysuckle (Lonicera canadensis) is a native plant whorl is the central location where stems sprout. (photo Hobblebush (Viburnum lantanoides) is not actually a R.W. Smith - Goldthread that looks a bit like a widespread invasive Asian variety, bottom right) spring ephemeral wildflower. It’s a woodland shrub which is also found in Maine. It’s fairly common and with dramatic large white flower clusters that bloom likes to grow on clearing edges where it can get some Continued page 9 Page 8 Skitkomiq Nutacomit Siqoniw Siqoniw Skitkomiq Nutacomit Page 5 EPA Science Matters Fun Facts about the Amazing Atlantic Salmon continued Working with Tribal Partners to Restore Fisheries in Northern Maine How many eggs do Atlantic salmon have? What eats Atlantic salmon? Generally from 2,500 to 7,000 depending on the size of Native American tribes in Maine have traditionally fished migrating and resident fish species, including Atlantic salmon, In freshwater, juveniles are eaten by a variety of fish the female (larger females have more eggs), or about 600 as a key part of their diet. However, over time, these traditional practices have been negatively impacted by industrial -800 eggs per pound of body weight. development which has caused decreasing water quality, loss of fish habitat, and obstacles to fish migration pathways. (smallmouth bass, striped bass, Northern pike, slimy sculpin, etc.), birds (kingfisher, double-crested What is the ESA and how does it relate to salmon? Additionally, interbreeding wild Atlantic salmon with less genetically-diverse domesticated and farm-raised salmon has cormorant, mergansers, osprey, blue heron, snowy egret, The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is a law passed in caused reduced fitness and adaptability of wild Atlantic salmon. The etc.), and mammals (otter, mink, 1973 that provides for the protection decline, and in some cases the elimination, of these important fish etc.). and conservation of species that are populations has meant the loss of a central component of tribes' at very high risk of going extinct. traditional diet. In the ocean, Atlantic salmon are eaten by: Atlantic salmon populations in the Atlantic salmon are culturally significant to the Maliseet people whose Gulf of Maine are listed as  Large predatory fish like ancestors have fished and lived along the St. John River (or Wolastoq in Atlantic halibut, Atlantic endangered under the ESA. This the Maliseet language) for thousands of years. The Meduxnekeag River is bluefin tuna, swordfish, and means that they are in danger of an important tributary in the St. John River Watershed that begins at striped bass. extinction throughout all or part of the Meduxnekeag Lake in northern Maine and joins with the St. John their range. Before construction of  Greenland shark, mako River near Woodstock, New Brunswick Canada. The Meduxnekeag Salmon tagged and ready for release sharks, porbeagle sharks, dams in the early 1830s, more than River runs adjacent to the Cara O’Donnell and Sam St. John, Houlton Band of and other sharks. 100,000 Atlantic salmon returned to Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians Maliseet Indians and Ross Jones and Robert U.S. rivers each year; now adult  Seabirds such as the (HBMI) Trust Lands and is a vital Beaumaster, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Northern gannett. returns are usually less than 1,000. tribal resource. One of the Canada, setting fyke netting in the Meduxnekeag primary missions of the HBMI is  Various seals (harp, grey, Why are there so few Atlantic River. harbor, etc.). salmon left in New England to restore Atlantic salmon to the  Meduxnekeag River. Toothed whales like killer rivers? whales, dolphins, and There are many reasons why U.S. Sharri Venno, an environmental planner for the HBMI, describes the importance porpoises. Atlantic salmon population of the Atlantic salmon, “The loss of Atlantic salmon and other sea run fish to the

Atlantic salmon are also caught abundances are so low. There Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians - from the damming of the Meduxnekeag Tina MacFarlane, Oromocto First for consumption by humans in are three primary causes: River in the 1800’s, the construction of Mactaquac Dam on the Wolastoq/St John Hatchery salmon smolt Nation, taking the length and weight of in 1968, to the ongoing impacts of climate change- has represented an ever- targeted aboriginal or traditional  Habitat degradation the Atlantic salmon before the fin clip, First Nations fisheries. Centuries of industrialization on increasing loss of sustenance, of traditional practices, and of spiritual ceremonies. Nashwaaksis Stream, New Brunswick New England rivers (e.g., paper and textile mills, Ultimately it is a cultural loss of relationship between the tribal community and How large do salmon get? deforestation of riparian areas and log drives) has sea run fish that I can’t put into The largest Atlantic salmon was 105 pounds and 60 resulted in the degradation of a lot of the fishes’ words. Restoring that relationship through the return of these fish to trib- inches. However, depending on how long they are at spawning and rearing habitat, effectively reducing al waters will be of immeasurable value to the Tribe and their efforts to sustain the health and welfare of our community and cultural lifeways.” sea, adults returning to the Gulf of Maine rivers typically the productive capacity of our rivers. weigh approximately 7-12 lbs. and are 28-32 inches long The HBMI has taken significant steps towards the restoration of salmon  Barriers to migration: Barriers, such as dams and after 2 years at sea. in the watershed, including conducting water quality monitoring, restoring hydroelectric power plants, and poorly designed What is the oldest known age of Atlantic salmon? culverts at road crossings can delay or prevent aquatic habitats and ecosystems, and partnering with EPA and other

The maximum recorded age was 13 years old, but most juvenile salmon swimming downstream and adults federal agencies to perform fish habitat assessments. In 2018, the HBMI Atlantic salmon that survive to reproduce live 5 to 8 swimming upstream. This can make it difficult or conducted an environmental DNA (eDNA) presence/absence study of years (1-7 years in fresh water, 1-6 years in the marine impossible for them to reach the habitats they need salmon within the watershed. Results confirmed the presence of Atlantic environment). to survive. salmon occurred only on the Canadian tributaries of the Meduxnekeag Damon Reynolds (left) and Sebastian Walton River, underscoring the importance of continued restoration efforts. (right), Houlton Band of Maliseet tribal members, Do salmon return to spawn in freshwater areas  Marine survival: Recently, fewer Atlantic salmon electrofishing in a tributary of the Wolastoq River. where they were born? have survived their journey to the Northwest EPA researchers are working in collaboration with the HBMI, as well as Almost always. While some straying has been Atlantic. Potential drivers include harvest, with the Maliseet First Nations in Canada, to help restore and reclaim documented, most spawning salmon return to the river starvation (via thermal habitat and food food-web their heritage of a thriving Atlantic salmon fishery in the St. John River Watershed and the Meduxnekeag River. By in which they were born and sometimes they even home changes), predation, and disease. leveraging knowledge from key Atlantic salmon researchers and genetic experts who are working as partners on the to the very stream of their birth. project, the HBMI can gain valuable information and resources on the Atlantic salmon population in the Meduxnekeag Continued page 10 River and avoid expensive and time-consuming hit-or-miss trial-and-error breeding efforts. Continued page 6

Page 6 Skitkomiq Nutacomit Siqoniw Siqoniw Skitkomiq Nutacomit Page 7 EPA Science Matters continued Fun Facts about the Amazing Atlantic Salmon On EPA’s role in this collaborative research effort, Deb Szaro, EPA Acting Regional Administrator for Region 1, says An endangered species, Atlantic salmon are now being How old are Atlantic salmon when they migrate “By initiating and facilitating this research project, EPA plays a pivotal role in the restoration of Atlantic salmon in the raised in hatcheries and outfitted with satellite tags to from freshwater to the ocean? St. John River and furthers the efforts of the cross-boundary Wolastoq watershed restoration collaboration by keep track of their migration patterns. Atlantic salmon smolt are usually 2-3 years old when they convening tribal, federal, state and international partners to construct a genetic diversity mapping of salmon within the begin their migration in U.S. waters, but migrating smolt river system.” What's the difference between Atlantic and Pacific are often older at higher latitudes. Salmon? To enable more effective Atlantic salmon preservation and restoration efforts by tribal, state, federal, and international The Atlantic salmon is actually one species within the Where do Atlantic salmon go in the ocean? partners, EPA is collaborating closely with the HBMI, the Maliseet Nation Conservation Council, US Fish and Wildlife genus Salmo. There are seven different species of North American Atlantic salmon migrate in the spring Service, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, Division of Fisheries and Oceans - Canada, and Pacific salmon, which belong to the genus from the rivers where they were born. They move into the University of New Brunswick, to create a cloud-based Population Diversity Database. The Population Diversity Oncorhynchus. the Labrador Sea for their first summer, autumn, and Database housing the data of genetic analysis of fish tissue samples will be used to establish routine genetic assessment winter. The following spring they move to the coastal of Atlantic salmon tissue and provide key information on natural diversity. Having a database of genetic information on Atlantic salmon generally don't live long after spawning but waters of Labrador and the Canadian salmon in the watershed creates the ability to consistently choose the genetic strain of salmon that has the greatest Arctic, West Greenland, and chance of survival and the closest genetics to current Atlantic salmon populations present in the Canadian side of the are capable of surviving and spawning again. Most Pacific sometimes to the waters of East Meduxnekeag River while promoting the genetic diversity necessary to re-establish and maintain the native salmon Greenland. After a second winter at population. The data will provide valuable information for live gene banking, captive rearing, and release of salmon into salmon die shortly after spawning, with the exception sea, adults from many populations tributaries with limited or nonexistent salmon populations. Using the genetic information in the Population Diversity are large and mature enough to Database, the HBMI will be able to reliably select tributary-specific salmon to restore to the Meduxnekeag River. The of steelhead. spawn, and they migrate back to database and genetic information will help to advance efforts to increase biodiversity and continue restoration Where do Atlantic salmon freshwater areas to reproduce. throughout the entire St. John River watershed and others along the Atlantic coast. In addition to informing ongoing live? restoration efforts, the development of the Meduxnekeag-specific genetics database will provide the HBMI with Atlantic salmon used to be What is a landlocked salmon? information to help inform the development of next steps in the overall salmon restoration plan for the Meduxnekeag found from Long Island Sound A landlocked Atlantic salmon is a River. to New England, but those AtlanticAtlantic salmon salmon grilse freshwater form of the sea-run www.epa.gov/science matters/working-tribal-partners-restore-fisheries-northern-maine populations no longer exist in Atlantic salmon. They are these rivers. Currently U.S. genetically considered a Atlantic salmon are only found subspecies of the sea-run Atlantic in a handful of rivers in Maine. salmon. They reside in lakes, never making the marine Why do salmon go to sea? migration. They generally do not Atlantic salmon go to sea to grow as large as sea-run fish, grow. The energy content and averaging between 12 and 20 abundance of food in the inches long. ocean is much higher than in freshwater, so fish are able to What do Atlantic salmon eat? grow very big, very quickly. In fresh water, young salmon mostly This is important because Atlantic salmon eat small insects such as mayflies, larger fish are less likely to be stoneflies, caddisflies, blackflies, and eaten and the females have more eggs. A lot of eggs are riffle beetles. Sometimes they eat small amphibians and Have you ever visited another city, fish. needed to produce enough juveniles that will grow to and noticed that the water there tastes For Salmon, maturity and return to spawn and sustain the different from the water at home? Fat is When they're in the ocean, young and adult salmon eat a Salmon can tell the difference between Where It’s At population. wide variety of prey, including: different place too! Young salmon When they’re living in the ocean  Fish such as capelin, Atlantic herring, sand lance, memorize the smell of their home stream When do Atlantic salmon migrate to the ocean? salmon eat a lot to store up plenty of barracudina and lanternfish. before they migrate to the sea. When they fat. The fat is the “fuel” they need to Young Atlantic salmon (called "smolts") migrate to sea are ready to return to fresh water, the  Crustaceans such as amphipods and euphausiids or get to their spawning grounds. Once every year in the spring. The “smolt run” in the Gulf of follow the smell home. "krill." salmon reach fresh water, they stop Maine begins in the middle of April and is over by the As the salmon migrate from the eating. So a salmon is a lot like a car beginning of June. Due to regional climate impacts, the  Cephalopods like squid and octopus. ocean to their home streams, their that makes a long trip on one tank of smolt run is starting earlier than in the past. The run  Polychaete worms. color and shape changes. Males get gas. If anything delays the salmon, hooked jaws and sharp teeth. In some they may use up their fuel too soon - begins later at northern latitudes. species, their backs get humps. Both males and not have enough to make it Just before adults migrate to estuaries to begin the and females change color. home. spawning migration, they stop eating altogether.