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Peter Gray Hatchery Report
July 2017
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Well I'm not a headline think tank for a newspaper, but if I was going to write one it may say something like: 2017 HAS HIGHEST SMOLT PRODUCTION IN THE EAST MACHIAS RIVER SINCE THE START OF THE PETER GRAY PARR PROJECT! Concise and factual...I like it.
The preliminary numbers are in and the smolt population estimate for the East Machias River is 1697 +/- 344 smolts. Salmon h
abitat is also stocked below the smolt traps and based on the smolt production estimate above the traps, the lower habitat produced another 209 smolts. In the first of year of smolt trapping for the Peter Gray Parr Project, and for that matter the East Machias River, the smolt population estimate was 584 +/- 85. We have seen the smolt population increase from 584 (2013) to 1906 (2017), a 226% increase. In other good news, smolt production in the East Machias River (due to the stocking efforts from the Peter Gray Hatchery) is 1 smolt/unit. To explain further, for every unit of habitat stocked (100 sq meters), 1 smolt made its way to the Atlantic Ocean. For comparison, a neighboring river - the Narraguagus River, that has three times more salmon habitat than the East Machias River produces around 0.25 smolt/unit.
The Peter Gray Hatchery is also producing a smolt population that is predominantly p20s (20 months spent in the river since stocking - equivalent to a wild age 2 smolt) and p32s (32 months spent in the river since stocking - equivalent to a wild age 3 smolt) instead of p8s (8 months spent in the river - no wild equivalent because the East Machias River does not produce 1 year old smolt). This is important because due to their increased in-river experience p20s and p32s return back from the ocean as adults at a higher rate than p8s. The Peter Gray Hatchery is able to achieve this feat due to our naturalized rearing environment. These rearing strategies, including using river water and increasing water velocities, produce a fish that is physically and behaviorally similar to wild parr. If parr were stocked at an artificially large size there would be a higher percentage of p8s in the smolt population.
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For the last couple of years July has been a tough month. Last year at this time we were in a serious drought and this year is shaping up to be similar. We haven't received a significant rain event since the beginning of June and the rivers are low. On the bright side the days haven't been as hot as they could be and the evenings have been cool, which helps keep the river temperature in check. As I write this update today our hatchery temp is 23 C and could just as easily be 25 C or more.
Despite this dry spell the "little athletes" in the Peter Gray Hatchery are doing well. They have been feeding consistently and experiencing some low and high temperatures in the hatchery. This helps the parr transition smoothly to life in the wild river.
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August 3rd Celebration Event!
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Also as a reminder please join us THIS THURSDAY AUGUST 3RD! We are having a celebration event at our East Machias location from 2-6. Everyone is invited! For more information on the entire event please click
here
. Beer, food, and talk about salmon all available!
Location:
13 Willow Street East Machias, Maine 04630.
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Foundation work is continuing on the expansion of the Peter Gray Hatchery. Soil is being compacted, footers for our 4,000+ gallon head tank are formed and shortly we will also form the trench for our waste water treatment. The interior layout of the hatchery has been designed and once the concrete is set for the trench, we will begin pouring the slab for the floor of the hatchery.
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!
Funders have generously donated to get us started, but we are continuing to raise funds for the expansion project to ensure it is completed this year. If you would like to contribute to this very important Project please visit here.
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As always, if you have any questions, concerns, and/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!
Regards,
Zach Sheller
Downeast Salmon Federation
Hatchery Manager
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There is a short Parr Project video on our website
HERE.
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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
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Leave a Legacy by
Making a Planned Gift to DSF
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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.
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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
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www.wildatlanticsalmon.org
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