Full report - Conservation Gateway

Chapter 6 - Diadromous Fish© USFWScomplement state management programs in coastal andinland waters and federal management authority oversalmon on the high seas conferred as a signatory nation tothe North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization.An extensive hatchery program initiated in the 1960ssustains re-introduced runs in New England from theConnecticut River northward. Shortnose sturgeon waslisted as an endangered species by the USFWS in 1967;NMFS assumed jurisdiction in 1974. The species ismanaged under a 1998 recovery plan.Rainbow smelt, Atlantic tomcod and sea-run trout, speciesthat live mostly within the three mile limit of statewaters and are not federally protected, are managed byfisheries agencies within states. Freshwater fisheries formigratory fish may be managed by state marine fisheriesagencies, state inland fisheries agencies, and/or local commissions.Across all species there is a dizzying array of additionalfederal, state and local entities with jurisdiction over differentaspects of habitat, water quality and fish passage,e.g. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Army Corpsof Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency, statefisheries agencies. And town herring wardens). There isincreasing recognition of the need to coordinate fisheriesmanagement with these other authorities across all lifestages and habitats in order to meet recovery goals. Forexample, ASMFC recently passed a resolution on the importanceof fish passage.Current Conservation EffortsDiadromous fish have been the subject of many conservationand recovery efforts, and there appears to be a strongand growing interest in coordination across habitats andpolitical boundaries in recognition of both the importanceand stressed condition of many of these species. ASMFCand its member institutions and partners have playeda critical leadership role in these interjurisdictional efforts.In winter 2009 ASMFC published Atlantic CoastDiadromous Fish Habitat: A Review of Utilization, Threats,Recommendations for Conservation, and ResearchNeeds, a comprehensive compilation of habitatinformation for the seven diadromous speciesit manages. In addition, the Atlantic CoastFish Habitat Partnership, an entity that grewout of the ASMFC Habitat Committee, andindividual Commission species technical committeeshave undertaken efforts to characterizethe amount, location, and gear involved inbycatch of managed species, and a fish passageworking group has been convened.Fishing impacts are being addressed for manyof these species. In United States waters, fishingfor Atlantic sturgeon, shortnose sturgeon,and Atlantic salmon is prohibited, and the ocean-interceptfishery for American shad was closed in 2004. In May2009, Amendment 2 to the FMP for American shad andriver herring established a coastwide moratorium for riverherring with exceptions for sustainable fisheries. DraftAmendment 3offers the same provision for shad, amongother alternatives, was released for public comment inAugust 2009, and will likely be finalized in 2010.Several states have included diadromous fish in StateWildlife Action Plans, and some have opted to work togetheron specific projects to promote species recovery.For example, in 2006, Maine, New Hampshire, andMassachusetts received a NMFS Proactive ConservationProgram grant to develop a comprehensive conservation6-26Northwest Atlantic Marine Ecoregional Assessment • Phase 1 Report