Supporting Community Fisheries

The term community fisheries is unique to coastal areas, and describes the ecosystem surrounding sea-run fish.

Coastal communities typically have rivers, lakes, ponds and streams that are home to many varieties of fish, some fresh water and some diadromous.  Much of this population are food sources for larger fish such as halibut, and also for lobster.

In Maine, herring (and particularly Alewives) are regaining strength and some sustainably harvested species are used as bait in the iconic lobster fishery.  These herring, once found in great abundance in Downeast Maine, had declined almost to the point of extinction.

DSF provides the on the ground data collection and advocacy to protect and enhance historic heritage fisheries for Alewives and Rainbow smelt.

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