The U.S. state of Maine has launched a new program designed to help Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon recover in Maine waters.
“This work will develop the research necessary to support recovery of Atlantic and Shortnose sturgeons and will provide an opportunity for community members to be part of that exciting process,” Maine Department of Marine Research (DMR) Scientist Danielle Frechette said in a statement.
Both Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon are listed as threatened and endangered, respectively, under the Endangered Species Act, although there are signs that dam removals and habitat restoration are helping the species recover. Now, the DMR and NOAA Fisheries are partnering on a new program that will better assess the status of sturgeons in Maine waters and what can be done to advance the species’ recovery.
Under a USD 444,248 (EUR 389,983) grant issued under NOAA’s Species Recovery Grant Program, researchers from Maine DMR, the University of Maine School of Marine Science, and the Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (CRU) will work to “identify research gaps, enhance data on nearshore threats such as vessel strikes, improve population abundance estimates, and engage the public in data gathering.” Part of the initiative will see the Maine DMR, the University of Maine, and the CRU combine their separate databases, which include 15 years of data on tagged sturgeons.
“Integrating the data from acoustic monitors in our coastal rivers will support a better understanding of sturgeon populations, habitat use, and near shore movement,” Frechette said.
The initiative will also see research capture and tag at least 40 individual sturgeon from the Kennebec and Penobscot Rivers over the next two years to help improve tracking of the species.
Other sturgeon recovery efforts include the Maine Sturgeon Sighting Reporter, a tool introduced by DMR last year to help community members report sturgeon sightings.
