NOTE: This is from the biological report on the status of Atlantic Salmon - see Table of Contents and News Release for additional information.

SECTION 1: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In response to a petition submitted to list Atlantic salmon under the Endangered Species Act, the Services conducted a review of the species status in 1995. That review concluded that the species was in danger of extinction. The Services published a proposed rule to list the DPS of Atlantic salmon as threatened and specifically identified threats from poaching, low natural survival of fish during the first winter at sea, and potential impacts from Atlantic salmon aquaculture operations and fish hatcheries to the genetic integrity and disease vulnerability of the DPS. In that proposed rule, the Services invited the State of Maine to prepare a Conservation Plan to eliminate, minimize and mitigate threats to Atlantic salmon and their habitat.

On December 18, 1997, the Services jointly withdrew a proposed rule designating Atlantic salmon in seven Maine rivers as a threatened Distinct Population Segment pursuant to the Endangered Species Act. The withdrawal was based on an evaluation of scientific data, the biological status of the species and consideration of actions ongoing by state, federal, and private entities designed to improve the status of Atlantic salmon and their habitat. One of those actions was the development and implementation by the State of Maine of a comprehensive Atlantic salmon conservation plan for seven river populations within the DPS.

The withdrawal notice required full public review of progress toward implementation of the conservation plan and on January 20, 1999, the Services announced the availability of the first annual conservation plan report and solicited public comment for 45 days. The Services also announced that after the state submitted a final annual report responding to comments that the Services would update the 1995 Atlantic Salmon Status Review. Copies of all public comments were provided to Maine on March 11, 1999. On March 18, the Services provided detailed comments to Maine explaining joint agency concerns and seeking additional information on certain issues. The state response was received on April 26, 1999, and the biological review team (BRT) thoroughly reviewed the state response along with all available information relating to the status of the species. This status review updates the 1995 Status Review and reflects the opinion of the BRT as to the current status of the DPS in the context of all ongoing management efforts and new research and assessment data that has become available since the 1995 status review and the withdrawal notice was published. The Status Review does not make a determination as to whether Atlantic salmon should be listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

The spawning stocks of Atlantic salmon throughout much of the North Atlantic, including Maine, continue to be very low. This trend is not expected to improve rapidly, due to the current population size of adults that are likely to be a component of spawning in 1999 and beyond. Survival of juveniles to parr stage in several of the rivers has increased, but only due to river-specific stocking activity. However, survival of juveniles to smolt stage, in rivers where measured, is lower than previously estimated.

Conservation hatchery activities have been affected by a recently identified disease (Salmon swimbladder sarcoma virus-SSSV) which resulted in the decision to destroy all captive broodstock for the Pleasant River. SSSV has been identified at very low occurrence levels in captive broodstock populations from three other rivers. Infectious salmon anemia (ISA), though not detected in U.S. waters, now extends within the coastal range of Gulf of Maine Atlantic salmon.

Efforts to implement and enhance habitat protection and restoration are evident throughout the DPS. Watershed councils are in place or being formed; additional riparian areas are being protected through acquisition, easement, and institution of buffer zones; and water withdrawal issues are to be dealt with through water management plans and regulation. Water withdrawal with its immediate impact on juvenile Atlantic salmon production and survival is the habitat issue of greatest concern. Sedimentation, nutrient input, pesticide impacts, process water discharge, low pH, and streambank vegetation removal continue to impair Atlantic salmon production potential.

Ocean harvest of Atlantic salmon continues to be restricted based upon international agreements negotiated among United States, Canadian, and European representatives to the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization. Distant water fisheries have either been completely closed or vastly reduced to subsistence levels. Recreational fishing for salmon in Maine is catch and release only. The interagency Atlantic Salmon Technical Advisory Committee has recommended closing salmon fishing on the DPS rivers. Maine proposed regulations to close Atlantic salmon fishing in the seven rivers plus four others under review by the Services for inclusion in the DPS. Thus far, such closures have not occurred. Poaching, though a concern, has not been a significant problem during the past two years. Additional enforcement presence on the rivers may have helped reduce illegal harvest.

The current practices of a greatly expanded aquaculture industry in the vicinity of the DPS rivers pose a major threat to the recovery of wild salmon populations. The most serious threat to the genetic integrity of wild salmon within the DPS is the interaction with aquaculture escapees. Genetic, health, and ecological interactions have been well documented in Europe and Canada. The BRT believes that current aquacultural practices have the potential to disrupt, displace, and genetically contaminate the DPS through redd superimposition, hybridization, disease transfer, and competition. Although discussions with environmental regulators in Maine are ongoing, to date the Services' efforts to obtain state and industry agreement to address aquacultural use of European stocks, crosses between European and North American stocks, and the importation of European milt have so far been unsuccessful. In fact, the use of European/North American hybrids by the industry appears to be increasing. In 1998, six million Atlantic salmon were raised in sea cages near the mouths of many DPS and other Atlantic salmon rivers, and escapees have been documented in several of these rivers. Additionally, the escape of juvenile Atlantic salmon from aquaculture hatcheries within DPS watersheds creates further concern because they compete with indigenous stock in fresh water, and identification is more difficult. The level of these threats is being elevated due to low spawner abundance and industry expansion.

As indicated above, discussions with environmental regulators in Maine are ongoing, however, comprehensive protective measures to address the threats posed by aquaculture are not in place, and aquaculture practices continue to pose a serious threat to the genetic integrity of the Gulf of Maine DPS. Action to address the use of pure European strains and hybrids is necessary. Additionally, weirs on several of the rivers scheduled for construction since 1996 must be completed to help protect stocks from this threat.

In summary, Atlantic salmon in the Gulf of Maine DPS exhibit critically low spawner abundance, poor marine survival, and are confronted with the increased presence of threats which have been documented to negatively impact salmon stocks including artificially reduced water levels, diseases and parasites, recreational and commercial fisheries, sedimentation, and genetic intrusion by commercially raised Atlantic salmon (particularly non-North American strains). This status review acknowledges the considerable efforts being put forth by the State of Maine and public and private sector partners to protect Atlantic salmon. The fact remains, however, that under current circumstances, it is the opinion of the BRT that the Gulf of Maine DPS of Atlantic salmon is in danger of extinction.