Operational Plan for the Restoration of Diadromous Fishes to the ...

Work Plan Narratives
26.1. Convene two interagency technical committee meetings annually to
manage diadromous fish species
The State fisheries agencies, the Department of Marine Resources (MMDMR) and
the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) are committed to working
together and in cooperation with the Penobscot Indian Nation (PIN), the US Fish and
Wildlife Service (USFWS), and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries), and various NGOs in this
effort. A primary responsibility of the interagency committee will be to address interagency
management issues in areas of overlapping jurisdiction.
26.2. Assemble adaptive management systems for active management of
single species.
As agencies and groups develop adaptive management systems for species or
species groups, these will be compiled by the Interagency Technical Committee.
26.3. Identify shared information among adaptive management plans
As plans are compiled, the data needed to manage the individual species and
species groups will be listed, and common information required for management can
be identified. For example, stream electrofishing survey, habitat survey, riverine
temperature and water quality data are likely to be required for Atlantic salmon and
freshwater species management.
26.4. Coordinate data collection and sharing among agencies, Standardize
methods.
An integrated sampling plan and common data structure for shared data will result in
increased sampling and efficient data collection. Where similar habitat and
population assessment techniques are used in adaptive management of several
species or species groups, standard methods will increase sample coverage for all
agencies.
26.5. Identify potential interactions among species being managed
At least 86 species of fish inhabit the Penobscot River basin (Baum 1983). Thirtyfive
are found in marine or estuarine waters, 33 occur in freshwater, five species
tolerate a range of salinities, and 12 are diadromous species that migrate between
marine and freshwater habitats. All of the fishes are native to Maine with the
exception of eight freshwater species. Since 1983, black crappie, green sunfish,
largemouth bass, and northern pike have been illegally introduced into the
Penobscot basin. Brown trout, an exotic species native to Europe, is stocked by
MDIFW for recreational fishing. Chain pickerel and smallmouth bass, managed by
MDIFW as sportfish, were introduced into Maine waters in the 1800s and have been
spread legally and illegally throughout the basin. Landlocked salmon and white
perch are native to the Penobscot basin, but their range has been artificially
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