Peter Gray Hatchery Report

January 2018

And so it begins...another fun and exciting year of the Peter Gray Parr Project ! We picked up our first batch of eggs for the Peter Gray Hatchery and our Pleasant River Fish Hatchery just the other day.

If you look closely at the pictures in this section you can see why they are called eyed eggs. That black dot you see on each egg is the eye of the developing little salmon. Eyed eggs are picked up from one of the Project's partners, the US Fish and Wildlife Service at the Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery . There, the USFWS maintains the river-specific broodstock for each Downeast river, including the East Machias and Pleasant Rivers where our hatcheries are situated.

Once we get the eggs to the Peter Gray Hatchery we disinfect not only the outside of the egg jugs, but also swap the water inside the jugs with an iodine/river water solution from our facility. This is completed to ensure there is no potential for the transfer of disease from one facility to another.

After being disinfected the eggs are put into the egg trays at each of our facilities, as you can see Rachel doing in the picture to your right. Over the next month we will be picking up 3 more batches--called takes--of eggs.

Adult Returns

I wanted to update you all on the adult return information for this past year. Maine DMR and NOAA use a redd -regression calculation to determine the number of adult returns to each river. This year the East Machias River estimate was 9 adult Atlantic salmon. Although a lower number, its important to remember that only an estimated 263 smolts left the river after the record setting harsh winter of 2015.

Since we smolt trap the river (in partnership with the Maine DMR Jonesboro office) we can come up with a smolt to adult return rate. In other words, what percentage of smolts return as adults to spawn. 2017's smolt to adult return rate was 3.4%. 2016's percentage of smolt returning to the the East Machias River was 1.6%. So far that's an average smolt return rate for the Peter Gray Parr Project of 2.5%.

Keep in mind that these are only two data points, but to put this year's number in perspective, the percentage of smolts returning as adults for the neighboring Narraguagus River was 1.6%. So, the smolt to adult return rate for smolts produced by the Peter Gray Parr Project was more than double that of the Narraguagus River, which has three times the amount of salmon habitat.

As with all of the data collected in the river, there are some variables at play with each calculation, but this is a positive indicator that the smolt leaving the East Machias River can and will survive in the Atlantic Ocean. Our next two smolt cohorts were around 1300 and 1900 smolts. This hopefully will translate into more and more adults swimming into the East Machias River to spawn!

Expansion

If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.

-Henry Ford

Just as Mr. Ford suggested, we are continuously moving forward on our hatchery expansion. In this section of the hatchery report you can take notice of some of our new additions...namely a garage door and the hemlock timbers that will become part of our new head tank.

We have had some electrical inspections completed and before too long construction on the head tank will begin along with lighting, wall sheathing, and finish wiring.

Just as the salmon keep swimming, we here at DSF continue to help them face the challenges to restoration. All of which couldn't happen without the help we've received and continue to receive from all of you.

As I've mentioned in previous reports, this expansion will allow the salmon growing in the Peter Gray Hatchery to be spread out into more tanks. Decreasing the densities in each tank will help lower the stress of the salmon and give them an even better environment to develop into the "little athletes" that will survive in the East Machias River, and later, the Atlantic Ocean. Lean, mean swimming machines!

Thomas & Thomas Fly Rod Purchase Supports the Peter Gray Parr Project

There are a few different ways to help save wild American Atlantic salmon. One way is to purchase a Thomas & Thomas fly rod--for yourself or as a gift for someone special!

With two-handed rods seeming ubiquitous on many famous salmon and steelhead rivers, at times it seems as though single-hander’s have been forgotten. That’s not the case at T&T. The “Salmon and Steelhead Special” rods are designed to offer salmon and steelhead anglers the ultimate balance of sensitivity and fish fighting prowess. These rods are deadly accurate for dry fly work and still perfectly capable of lifting a long line off the water as you step and swing flies through the pool.

The medium fast action facilitates smooth, controlled casts, even with highly wind resistant flies. Strength in the lower sections of the rod enables good hook setting and provides the power to battle these magnificent migratory fish.

One rod is available to Peter Gray Parr Project donors with 100% of the proceeds to be donated to the project. Click HERE to purchase !

To purchase this or another gift, or to donate to this effort to restore Atlantic salmon, please visit www.wildatlanticsalmon.org .

As always, if you have any questions, concerns, or comments, feel free to reach out to me at zach@mainesalmonrivers.org. I hope this report finds you well and you enjoyed reading about the Peter Gray Parr Project . Thank you for all you have done, and continue to do, in the pursuit of Atlantic salmon restoration!

Kind Regards,

Zach Sheller

Downeast Salmon Federation

Hatchery Manager

If you'd like to read more on the Peter Gray Parr Project 's beginnings and future please read our Parr Project Booklet.

There is a short Parr Project video on our website HERE.

DONATE TODAY!

If you believe in the importance of restoring Atlantic salmon to our U.S. rivers, then please consider making a gift to the Peter Gray Parr Project for 2017. We will be continuing our work to restore salmon to Downeast Maine and would appreciate your help! Click HERE

Leave a Legacy by Making a Planned Gift to DSF

A planned gift to Downeast Salmon Federation is a wonderful way to contribute to the health of our rivers and fisheries for future generations while also meeting your financial goals. You can create a legacy gift that will help DSF continue to improve river ecology, restore Atlantic salmon populations, increase fish passage, run educational programs, and much more. Click on the link below for more information about planned giving.

Planned Giving

Wild Atlantic salmon numbers in the U.S. have been at a record low, but DSF is working to bring them back. Please support our work by becoming a member of the Downeast Salmon Federation. Together, we can restore sea-run fisheries in Maine.

Downeast Salmon Federation