PITTSTON (AP) — Maine’s smelt fishery appears to be bouncing back somewhat from a poor 2014, but experts say the future looks grim.
The Kennebec Journal reports that after 600 measured hours of fishing on the Kennebec River this year, the state has recorded 438 smelts caught, or one per line every 79 minutes. If that holds, it would be the best since 2009.
Last year was the worst smelt season ever in Maine.
The population of the small fish, which swim from saltwater habitats in the winter to mate in freshwater tributaries in the spring, has declined over the past two decades across the Northeast, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Mike Baker, operator of Pittston smelt camps, says things may be better than last year, but they’re still not good.
The Times Record Sustaining Sponsor
We believe a community must be informed to thrive. bowdoin.edu
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less