The Decline of Atlantic Salmon and Their Recovery Plan

Presenter: Liliana Grace Pollard

Faculty Sponsor: Heather Ruel

School: Holyoke Community College

Research Area: Environmental Science and Sustainability

Session: Poster Session 5, 3:15 PM - 4:00 PM, Auditorium, A46

ABSTRACT

In the Northeastern United States 300,000 - 500,000 Atlantic salmon used to spawn in rivers every year. By the early 1900s Atlantic salmon disappeared from every state except Maine. The Gulf of Maine Atlantic salmon distinct population segment (DPS) was declared federally endangered in 2000. The main cause of their decline is dams and other barriers like road stream crossings which prevent Atlantic salmon from swimming up rivers to spawn in tributary streams. Additional threats to Atlantic salmon include the degradation of their habitat, and climate change. 

In 2019 NOAA Fisheries and USFWS finalized a plan to restore the Atlantic Salmon population of the Gulf of Maine. The objective of the plan is to maintain sustainable, wild populations of Gulf of Maine DPS Atlantic salmon with access to sufficient habitat and eliminate the threats to the Gulf of Maine DPS. While the major threats to Atlantic salmon are addressed, the recovery plan relies on conservation hatchery programs. Salmon passage can be improved by the removal or improvement of barriers deemed essential to the conservation of Atlantic salmon. Climate change’s threat to Atlantic salmon can be addressed by studying climate change to produce predictive models that can guide preemptive action, and by developing climate resilient habitats. Atlantic salmon habitat can be maintained, protected and restored by monitoring and minimizing effects of human water withdrawal on stream flow, monitoring and reducing pollution to improve water quality, and managing rivers and surrounding riparian areas to promote habitat features suitable for Atlantic salmon.

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