Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons^™

Report On American Eel (Anguilla Rostrata) Mark Recapture Study: Year 1, Christopher D. Johnson

Maine Sea Grant Publications

In 2017, Sipayik Environmental Department staff conducted a abundance and distribution study, using a mark-recapture method study focusing on the American eel ( Anguillla rostrata ), a species of cultural importance to the Passamaquoddy. The study’s focus area, the Pennamaquan Watershed, spans from its northernmost extent in Pembroke, Maine, south to Charlotte, Maine.This was the first time since 2005 that the Passamaquoddy Tribe studied the American eel. The 2005 study observed preferred eel habitat and migration routes on the dam at little river located in Perry Maine, 7 miles east of the Pennamaquan Lake. It also served as a pilot …

The 11th International Conference And Workshop On Lobster Biology And Management, Richard Wahle, Kari L. Lavalli

Maine Sea Grant Publications

As large, charismatic species, lobsters of all stripes often find themselves at the center of scientific research and in the media spotlight. Lobster fisheries are important economic drivers of coastal communities around the world. Indeed, lobsters are poster children of a marine environment increasingly under the pressures of human exploitation and environmental change. The 200+ abstracts in this program reflect the activity of a vibrant international community of researchers and industry members striving to understand what makes lobsters tick and keep their fisheries sustainable.

21st Annual Pectinid Workshop Abstracts And Program, Kevin Stokesbury, Jay Parsons, Sandy Shumway

Maine Sea Grant Publications

No abstract provided.

Connecting Rivers In The Penobscot Watershed, Catherine Schmitt

Maine Sea Grant Publications

Across Maine, communities and land owners are reconnecting rivers and streams by improving road crossings, fixing broken culverts, and removing dams and other barriers. There are many reasons for doing this work, including preventing costly repairs associated with flooding and washouts, enhancing water quality, increasing wildlife habitat, and restoring fish populations. Connecting Rivers explores some of the ways that streams connect inland lakes and forests and the sea. This second fact sheet in the series provides an overview of the motivations for and benefits of restoring fish passage, and includes a map of dam removals and other restoration actions in …

Maine Infectious Salmon Anemia Virus Control Program Standards, Christopher Bartlett

Maine Sea Grant Publications

The United States Department of Agriculture, (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, (APHIS), Veterinary Services, (VS) Infectious Salmon Anemia Virus Control Program Standards, hereafter referred to as the Standards, establish recommended procedures for the prevention and containment of Infectious Salmon Anemia virus (ISAV) in farm-raised Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). The Standards provide guidelines for producers, APHIS-accredited veterinarians, other fish health personnel, laboratory personnel, and regulators. The eligibility of Atlantic salmon producers affected by ISA in Maine to receive indemnity is based, in part, on compliance with these Standards, and upon availability of any indemnity funds …

American Lobster Settlement Index Update 2016, Richard Wahle, Joshua Carloni

Maine Sea Grant Publications

This ALSI Update adds 2016’s settlement numbers to our continuing time series of diver-based and bio-collector-based sampling in New England and Atlantic Canada. In this update we also feature an analysis led by Joshua Carloni, of New Hampshire Department of Fish & Game, to take a closer look at what might be behind the puzzling disconnect between what should be record-breaking larval production and the paltry settlement reports across the region

Clamming In Maine, Brunswick High School

Maine Sea Grant Publications

To become good environmental stewards and gain knowledge of viable economic opportunities, students need opportunities to learn about their local ecosystem and natural resources. The project leader will provide Brunswick High School students with the hands-on experience and curriculum to directly learn about an important local marine habitat and resource. Drawing on curricula from organizations such as the Friends of Casco Bay, Downeast Institute, and the Island Institute, McCullough has designed a monitoring program in which students will take environmental measurements (oxygen, nutrients, temperature, salinity, predation, invasive species, and growth rate); monitor green crab populations; and collect wild oyster spawn …

Penobscot River Habitat Focus Area 2016 Annual Report, Matthew Bernier

Maine Sea Grant Publications

1 Penobscot River Habitat Focus Area 2016 Annual Report The Penobscot River is New England’s second largest river, draining nearly one-third of the state of Maine with a watershed area of 8,570 square miles not including tributaries to Penobscot Bay. The watershed is home to 11 migratory fish species, including three listed under the Endangered Species Act, and represents the largest run of Atlantic salmon in the United States. It has a rich cultural history of commercial, recreational, and sustenance fishing. It is also home to the Penobscot Indian Nation and includes the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. The …

Penobscot River Restoration, Catherine Schmitt

Maine Sea Grant Publications

BETWEEN THE HEAD of tide above Bangor to where it widens into the bay at Searsport, the Penobscot River shifts from a flowing freshwater waterway banked by cedar and pine to a brackish, wave-lapped marsh with a rocky shoreline. In this estuary, salt concentrations fluctuate as the winds and tides push sea water and sediments back and forth. The estuary and the river that feeds it have taken on a new character recently, and have become an international example of watershed restoration. Despite two centuries of intensive timber harvesting and pulp and paper manufacturing, and the construction of hundreds of …

Aquaculture In Shared Waters Fact Sheet: Kelp Aquaculture, Sarah Redmond, Sam Belknap, Rebecca Clark Uchenna

Maine Sea Grant Publications

“Kelp” are large brown marine macroalgae species native to New England and traditionally wild harvested for food. There are three commercially important kelp species in Maine—sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima), winged kelp (Alaria esculenta), and horsetail kelp (Laminaria digitata). Maine is developing techniques for culturing kelp on sea farms as a way for fishermen and farmers to diversify their operations while providing a unique, high quality, nutritious vegetable seafood for new and existing markets. Kelp is grown on submerged horizontal long lines on leased sea farms from September to May, making it a “winter crop” for Maine. The simple farm design, …

Aquaculture In Shared Waters Fact Sheet: Getting To Know Your Water, Dana Morse, Samuel Belknap, Rebecca Clark Uchenna

Maine Sea Grant Publications

Aquaculture businesses must operate on sound environmental principles, most especially because marine aquaculture occurs in an open system: the ocean. While all farming activities, on land or at sea, have some degree of environmental interaction, farmers should understand these processes, with best management practices to minimize negative impacts. Successful farms must cope effectively with any changes to the marine system, and an organized system of monitoring and recordkeeping will improve your chances of business success, while maintaining a healthy environment. This fact sheet provides a summary of direct and indirect environmental factors that may affect your marine aquaculture business; more …

Aquaculture In Shared Waters Fact Sheet: The Business Of Aquaculture, Richard Clime

Maine Sea Grant Publications

Maine has significant potential to benefit from the successful integration of commercial fishing and the seafood business in the form of aquaculture and you have a chance to be involved in the beginning stages of this promising field. Aquaculture can be seen as a way to diversify on-the-water income and can easily complement existing fisheries businesses. There are risks associated with any business, however if managed properly aquaculture can be profitable.

Aquaculture In Shared Waters Fact Sheet: Site Selection, Dana Morse

Maine Sea Grant Publications

Site selection is the process of determining the optimum place for the sea farm. It’s a critical process, and will affect success - or failure. Crops grown on the wrong site may never do well, despite the best efforts of the farmer, and since obtaining a lease is usually a lengthy process, it’s not easy for a farmer to simply start up at a new site. The best approach is to do your homework thoroughly.

Aquaculture In Shared Waters Fact Sheet: Aquaculture In Maine, Dana Morse, James Crimp, Rebecca Clark Uchenna

Maine Sea Grant Publications

This series of “Aquaculture in Shared Waters” fact sheets is intended to help fishermen or others in Maine’s coastal communities interested in starting a small-scale aquaculture business as we move towards achieving this potential in a way that is best for our people and the environment.

Aquaculture In Shared Waters Fact Sheet: Husbandry, Dana Morse, Samuel Belknap, Rebecca Clark Uchenna

Maine Sea Grant Publications

When people think of sea farming, it’s usually the husbandry part that they have in mind: tending the crop, working on the boat, etc. Husbandry is a rewarding part of the aquaculture process, and good husbandry is critical to success. Paired with strong financial management and sales and marketing, husbandry is where the rubber meets the road. Your goal as the farmer is very simple, but difficult to do well: Successful aquaculturists keep their animals and plants at optimum health. Another way to think about this is to keep the crop at minimum stress: low stress equals faster growth, improved …

The Secret Life Of Eels, Catherine Schmitt

Maine Sea Grant Publications

An overview of the natural history, biology, and population status of the American eel in Maine, research on eels in the Penobscot River, and description of the fishery.

Connecting Rivers For Healthy Ocean Fisheries, Catherine Schmitt

Maine Sea Grant Publications

Across Maine, communities and land owners are reconnecting rivers and streams by improving road crossings, fixing broken culverts, and removing dams and other barriers. There are many reasons for doing this work, including preventing costly repairs associated with flooding and washouts, enhancing water quality, increasing wildlife habitat, and restoring fish populations. Connecting Rivers explores some of the ways that streams connect inland lakes and forests and the sea. This first fact sheet in the series focuses on connections between populations of migratory river fish (alewives and blueback herring) and groundfish (e.g., cod).

Interactive Effects Of Tidal Height And Predator Exclusion On Growth And Survival Of Wild And Cultured Juveniles Of The Soft-Shell Clam, Mya Arenaria L., At Two Intertidal Flats In Southern Maine, Brian F. Beal

Maine Sea Grant Publications

A comparative field experiment was initiated at two intertidal flats in southern Maine (Wells – Webhannet River; Portland – Fore River) in May 2014 to examine the interactive effects of tidal height and predator exclusion on the growth and survival of cultured individuals of the soft-shell clam, Mya arenaria L. (x_{Shell length} = 12.95 ± 0.20 mm). Experimental units (0.018 m²) were placed near the upper and lower intertidal and filled with ambient sediments at both sites. Clams were added to units at a density of 660 ind. m^-2. Predator exclusion included five treatments: 1) …

Population Ecology And Epidemiology Of Sea Lice In Canadian Waters, Sonja M. Saksida, Ian Bricknell, Shawn M. C. Robinson, Simon Jones

Maine Sea Grant Publications

Sea lice are found on farmed and wild fish on both the west coast and east coast of Canada. The predominant species on both coasts is referred to as Lepeophtheirus salmonis but indications are that the two groups are genetically different. Caligus species are also found on both coasts, these too are different species: Caligus clemensi and C. elongatus, respectively. There has been extensive work on sea lice on both wild and farmed fish over the last decade. Research indicates that L. salmonis, commonly referred to as the salmon louse; may have a broader host range than commonly …

From Wealth To Poverty: The Rise And Fall Of Cod Around Mount Desert Island, Natalie Springuel, Bill Leavenworth, Karen Alexander

Maine Sea Grant Publications

The history of cod fishing in the Gulf of Maine, particularly around Mount Desert Island and the Down East coast, begins with a tremendous diversity and volume of fish and ends in a marine ecological tragedy. It is a story of decline that cannot be told in isolation from farming and timber harvesting or from other fisheries. But it is also a story of people. Many thousands of people around Mount Desert Island in the last four hundred years have built their lives around cod and other fish. Cod drew settlers to the region, provided work in the fishery and …

The American Lobster Settlement Index: An Early Warning System?, Maine Sea Grant College Program

Maine Sea Grant Publications

The harvest of American lobsters is the Gulf of Maine’s largest, most valuable, and most iconic fishery. The catch has never been higher, but how long will it last? Fishing communities in eastern Maine and southern Nova Scotia are seeing historically high landings, some five times higher than the 1980s. At the same time, the lobster fishery south of Cape Cod has all but collapsed, plagued by shell disease and stressfully warm summers. It has never been more important to monitor this vital fishery. The American Lobster Settlement Index measures the annual pulse of baby lobsters to rocky nurseries some …

21st Century Marine Science For Maine People: Maine Sea Grant Strategic Plan 2014-2017, Maine Sea Grant College Program

Maine Sea Grant Publications

Maine’s coastal communities were founded on natural resources, from fish and shellfish to stone, salt, and wood. Many communities continue to depend on marine resources, and some are experiencing demographic, economic, political, and environmental changes that create conflict and have the potential to erode Maine’s unique natural and cultural heritage. Maine Sea Grant envisions a future in which Maine’s coastal communities are resilient to challenges and changes—resilient communities continually gather the necessary skills, knowledge, and resources (human and physical) to plan for, cope with, and thrive in the face of both predicted and unexpected change.

The University of Maine is …

Mud Blister Worms And Oyster Aquaculture, Dana L. Morse, Paul D. Rawson, John N. Kraeuter

Maine Sea Grant Publications

The mud blister worm, Polydora websteri Hartman (Loosanoff and Engle 1943), burrows into the shells of bivalve mollusks, including Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica), sea scallops (Placopecten magellanicus) and blue mussels (Mytilus edulis).

This report is for oyster producers interested in controlling mud blister worms, which when present in large numbers can reduce the value of oysters sold to the half-shell market. Although other species of blister-causing worms occur in several genera including Polydora, Pseudopolydora, and Boccardia, this report focuses specifically on Polydora websteri.

In Their Own Words: Fishermen's Perspectives Of Community Resilience, Teresa R. Johnson, Anna Henry, Cameron Thompson

Maine Sea Grant Publications

Maine’s fishing communities are experiencing the cumulative effects of fish stock depletion, state and federal regulations, coastal development and demographic changes, and rising fuel and energy costs.

Legally, federal fisheries managers must minimize adverse economic impacts of fishery regulations on fishing communities, yet too often data with which to do this are insufficient (Ingles and Sepez 2007). For example, National Standard 8 of the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the federal legislation governing the management of marine resources in the U.S., requires that managers “take into account the importance of fishery resources to fishing communities” and “provide sustained …

What The Hake?! Fish Forensics In Maine Markets, Laura Whitefleet-Smith, A. L. Bass

Maine Sea Grant Publications

Mislabeling of seafood is a widespread issue, not just locally but worldwide. Researchers at the University of New England have developed a molecular method for identifying six species of hake and an additional five groundfish species common to the Gulf of Maine.

Salmon Aquaculture / Salmoniculture, Downeast Fisheries Trail, Roosevelt-Campobello International Park

Maine Sea Grant Publications

This artist’s rendition of a single salmon pen shows how the fish are contained. Groups of pens are tied together by an underwater grid system of anchors, chains, and ropes.

Fishermen's Knowledge Of Halibut And Their Habitat, Julia Beaty

Maine Sea Grant Publications

Relatively few scientific data are available to describe the biology, behavior, and distribution of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) in the Gulf of Maine. This report contains the results of a study aimed at collecting and summarizing fishermen's knowledge of Atlantic halibut and their habitat off the Maine coast.

Culture Of Sargassum In Korea: Techniques And Potential For Culture In The U.S., Sarah Redmond, Jang K. Kim, Charles Yarish, Michael Pietrak, Ian Bricknell

Maine Sea Grant Publications

In an effort to develop suitable culture techniques for macroalgae in the Northeast, this guide reviews the current knowledge of Sargassum biology and reports on culture techniques learned during a research exchange between the United States (NOAA Sea Grant) and South Korea (National Fisheries Research and Development Institute).

Culture Of Sea Cucumbers In Korea: A Guide To Korean Methods And The Local Sea Cucumber In The Northeast U.S., Michael Pietrak, Jang K. Kim, Sarah Redmond, Young-Dae Kim, Charlie Yarish, Ian Bricknell

Maine Sea Grant Publications

In an effort to develop suitable culture techniques for sea cucumber (Cucumaria frondosa) in the Northeast, this guide reviews the current knowledge of C. frondosa biology and reports on techniques for the hatchery culture of the Japanese sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus learned during a research exchange between the United States (NOAA Sea Grant) and South Korea (National Fisheries Research and Development Institute). The final portion of the guide discusses the potential adoption of the culture techniques for A. japonicus for use with C. frondosa.

Fisheries Now: American Eel, Julia Beaty

Maine Sea Grant Publications

The American eel is the only species in the Gulf of Maine that spends most of its life in freshwater but spawns in the Sargasso Sea, a large area of the Atlantic Ocean south of Bermuda and east of the Bahamas. American eel larvae (known as leptocephali) are transported by ocean currents for nearly a year until they reach the east coast of North America.