Spring is coming to the Peter Gray Parr Project

Peter Gray Hatchery Update

Alevin hatching in one of our egg trays at DSF's Peter Gray Hatchery - 13 Willow St. East Machias, Maine 04630

Good day all,

I hope while reading this Peter Gray Hatchery update you and your loved ones are healthy and well.

The Peter Gray Parr Project is still moving forward. The endangered Atlantic salmon we have in our two conservation hatcheries don't know the troubles present in the world around them. They also don't take days off - time marches on for the king of sport fish!

The eyed eggs are starting to hatch into alevin (or sac fry) and soon will be transferred to the substrate incubation boxes (see pictures below). These boxes are filled with rocks and plastic media, designed to mimic a salmon redd (nest) in our hatcheries. These man-made, in-hatchery salmon "redds" expose the alevin to substrate, give them room to spread out versus the egg tray, and allow them to swim up and out of the box in May when they (and the river) are ready. This same process happens in salmon redds found in the river! The goal: DSF hatcheries = extensions of the river = strong salmon.

While getting the Peter Gray Hatchery ready to roll for alevin and before long, fry, thoughts are also on the salmon already in the river resulting from the Peter Gray Parr Project. We have parr that were stocked last fall, parr that have lived in the river for a couple years, smolts that are getting ready to head to the Atlantic ocean, and perhaps even a few adults that were successful in spawning last fall. Smolt trapping will start again soon (more on smolt trapping in the next update) and later this summer we will have the opportunity to see how successful the 60 redds (that were counted last fall) were in creating the next generation of wild salmon!

If you are new to receiving these updates and would like to catch up on some you have missed, please visit our website here . Please follow the hyperlinks located in the update for more information on the topics. If there are any of your friends you think would enjoy this content please share with them or let us know their email address to add to the list!

If you like the work we are doing, please considering donating towards the continuation of the Peter Gray Parr Project . We hope this update 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!

Be healthy and well,

Zach

Welcome Mitch

Mitch earned his Bachelor of Technology in Fisheries and Aquaculture from the State University of New York at Cobleskill in 2017. During his time at SUNY Cobleskill he learned how to rear brook trout, brown trout, tiger trout and arctic char hybrid. In the winter of 2016 he studied abroad in the Peruvian Amazon studying local fish and wildlife. He worked for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG), rearing Chinook salmon for 2 years. During his time with the IDFG he helped release over 3 million Chinook salmon into the South Fork of the Salmon River. He has always had a love for fishing and the outdoors, trying to do what he can for the others who have the same passion that he does.

DSF's Pleasant River Hatchery set up with our substrate incubation boxes!

DSF's Peter Gray Hatchery ready to role for incubating some alevin! Thank you Kyle and Ryan for the help getting the hatchery ready.

Are you interested in making a Contribution Pledge Commitment to DSF? Click here for the Downeast Salmon Federation Contribution Pledge Form. Thank you!

You can also support the Downeast Salmon Federation by purchasing some swag! Hats, sweatshirts, and t-shirts can be found HERE . Other ways to help are to become a member !

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.

The Downeast Salmon Federation a North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization accredited organization!

Thank you to the Trout and Salmon Foundation for your continued support of the Peter Gray Parr Project !

Thank you to the Sarah K. de Coizart Article TENTH Perpetual Charitable Trust for your support of the Peter Gray Parr Project !

Please support our work by becoming a member of the Downeast Salmon Federation. Together, we can restore sea-run fisheries in Maine.