Article Summary –
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries has recommended $70.9 million for improving fish migration in Maine rivers under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. The funding will be allocated to various organizations including the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point, the Penobscot Indian Nation, the Maine Department of Marine Resources, The Nature Conservancy, the City of Auburn, Maine Rivers, and the Downeast Salmon Federation. The funds will be used for projects such as improving habitat access for alewives and endangered Atlantic salmon, dam removals, construction of fish ladders, culvert replacements, and nature-like fishways, aimed at enhancing Maine’s conservation efforts and supporting the sustainability of commercial, recreational, and tribal fisheries.
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree Announces $70.9m Federal Funding for Fish Migration Improvement in Maine
Maine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree announced today that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries has recommended $70.9 million in federal funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) for fish migration improvement projects in Maine. The funding will go towards enhancing habitat access for endangered Atlantic salmon, alewives, and other migratory species in the St. Croix River and Penobscot and St. George River watersheds.
“These migratory fish species are critical for preserving Maine’s biodiversity and the health of our streams and rivers. They’re also vital to the Penobscot and Passamaquoddy tribes, who have harvested these species for thousands of years,” Pingree said. The significant funding boosts Maine’s conservation efforts and supports the sustainability of commercial, recreational, and tribal fisheries.
Allocation of Federal Funding
The funding is divided among the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point, the Penobscot Indian Nation, Maine Department of Marine Resources, The Nature Conservancy, City of Auburn, Maine Rivers, and the Downeast Salmon Federation. These entities will work towards enhancing migratory fish passage in various Maine rivers, directly benefiting the local ecosystems and communities.
Noaa Fisheries Announces $240 Million in Total Funding
Noaa Fisheries has announced almost $240 million in funding and an additional $38 million in future year funding for 46 fish passage projects under the BIL and IRA through Restoring Fish Passage through Barrier Removal Grants and Restoring Tribal Priority Fish Passage through Barrier Removal Grants. This funding builds on over $166 million awarded for 36 projects in the first round of these two funding opportunities, all of which significantly benefit endangered migratory fish and sustainable fisheries.
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