by John Holyoke, BDN staff Bangor Daily News news story BAILEYVILLE, Maine — For nearly 20 years, conservationists and, at times, state natural resource agencies, have sought to open the St. Croix River watershed to alewives. Those river herring had their passage at dam fishways officially blocked in 1995 due to concerns that their presence Read More
Protecting Wildlife
Return of Alewives to St. Croix River Celebrated
by Susan Sharon MPBN news story There was a homecoming celebration on the St. Croix River in Baileyville today — for an ecologically and culturally significant species of fish. Alewives were almost completely driven out of the waterway that borders Maine and Canada, where fishing guides have long viewed the native fish as a threat Read More
Celebrating Herring Homecoming on St. Croix River
Federal officials pledge continuing support to help restore one of largest alewife runs in the nation News Release Baileyville, Maine — Today, Tribal and federal Trustees joined with state and nongovernmental partners and Canadian officials to celebrate the reopening of the Grand Falls Dam fish ladder, which has been closed for more than two decades, Read More
Starvation Stressing Maine Puffin Colonies
Scientists blame shifting fish populations as ocean temperatures rise. by Clarke Canfield, Associated Press Portland Press Herald news story PORTLAND — The Atlantic puffin population is at risk in the United States, and there are signs the seabirds are in distress in other parts of the world. In the Gulf of Maine, the comical-looking seabirds Read More
Alewife Observations
Guest blog post by NRCM member David Wilkins Editor’s Note: In October 2011, NRCM member and alewife activist David Wilkins wrote a blog post about his personal project to restore this native Maine fish to Webber Pond, near where he lives. As David wrote in his blog, “The run in Muscongus Brook and into Webber Read More
Feds: Many Causes for Dramatic Bee Disappearance
Associated Press AP news story WASHINGTON — A new federal report blames a combination of problems for a mysterious and dramatic disappearance of U.S. honeybees since 2006. The intertwined factors cited include a parasitic mite, multiple viruses, bacteria, poor nutrition, genetics, habitat loss and pesticides. The multiple causes make it harder to do something about Read More
East-west Highway Foes Say Project Would Hurt Businesses, Environment
Robert Long, BDN staff Bangor Daily News news story A proposed 220-mile east-highway across Maine will hurt local businesses and destroy wildlife habitat, opponents of the project said at a State House event Tuesday. Patrick McGowan, a former Route 2 business owner, Maine conservation commissioner, legislator and Democratic candidate for governor, said Tuesday that “people Read More
Bill Aims to Get Lead Out of Maine Loons
It would ban fishermen from using sinkers and jigs made of lead, but some say the move is unnecessary. by Susan M. Cover, State House Bureau Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — A former head of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine told lawmakers Thursday that fishermen should stop using lead sinkers and jigs that Read More
Let Those Alewives Go
Bangor Daily News editorial The state committee charged with recommending whether to let alewives back into the upper reaches of the St. Croix River should base its decision on science, not anecdotes or politics, and approve a bill to allow the river herring unfettered access to spawning ground. Standing before the Committee on Marine Resources Read More