Maine's 2021–2035 Statewide Fisheries and Hatcheries Management Plan

Ensure freshwater fish populations remain healthy and are sustainably managed into the future.

Some actions to help reach this goal include:

• Conserve native fish species, particularly those exhibiting population decline, including state listed freshwater fish, as well as fish of greatest conservation need
• Use cost-effective modern scientific approaches to monitor, assess, and respond to changes in key sport fish, forage fish, and species of greatest conservation need
• Limit the spread and distribution of all aquatic invasive species, including fish pathogens, through surveillance, permitting, interagency coordination, research, remediation, and public outreach
• Implement actions identified in Maine’s state Wildlife Action Plan to conserve Species of Greatest Conservation Need
• Provide timely consultation recommendations to regulatory agencies (MDEP, LUPC, FERC, ACF, etc.) to limit potential impacts to fish and aquatic communities from proposed actions
• Provide technical support and collaborate with private landowners to develop research and implement appropriate solutions to address management and conservation challenges
• Coordinate and collaborate with state, federal, tribal, and non-governmental organization partners to manage state fishery interests
• Promote and direct conservation actions, including conservation of riparian habitat, habitat restoration, and habitat connectivity targeting the state’s highest priority wild native fisheries
• Manage for sustainable harvest of sport fish
• Manage harvest and recreational use of live fish as bait to support the popular practice of fishing with live fish as bait, where such practices do not threaten native coldwater fish populations
• Manage stocking and management programs considerate of potential negative interactions to native and wild fish through adherence to stocking guidelines, post stocking monitoring, research, interagency coordination, and consideration of hatchery fish sterilization techniques

Fisheries management is the science of blending biological needs of fish with public and social desires. Aside from actions that are entirely conservation-focused, a spectrum of management actions such as stocking and regulations can be implemented based on public interests and biological considerations. Effective management considers public opinions and preferences in the development of management objectives.

Some actions to help reach this goal include:

• Provide cost-effective diverse fishing opportunities throughout the state for both ice and open water anglers, focused on different social use opportunities such as fall fishing, remote fishing, urban fishing, family fishing, and fast action fishing (sunfish, chubs, etc.)
• Periodically survey anglers to assess public support for and direction of Division programs, and continue efforts by regional staff to engage with the public in various venues to increase awareness of public and Division management concerns
• Develop stakeholder-supported, water-specific fisheries management plans for the state’s most popular and important waters to increase transparency and public support for management direction and associated rulemaking and stocking actions
• Develop written management goals for waters not supported by formal plans to support management actions and review of public input regarding those actions
• Explore stocking initiatives and practices that not only enhance angling opportunities, but also are expected to provide meaningful public use benefits, considerate of investment costs
• Continue to explore additional opportunities for lawbook simplification and enhanced digital tools to make fishing laws easier for anglers to understand

As public values, attitudes, and communication technologies change, program relevancy, collaboration, and understanding become increasingly important. Because the way people communicate and access information has changed in recent decades, the strategies to reach currently engaged anglers and new audiences must also evolve.

Some actions to help reach this goal include:

• Increase angler recruitment, retention, and reactivation (“R3”) consistent with engagement and participation strategies developed in the Department’s R3 Plan
• Continue meaningful collaboration with other state agencies, federal agencies, and tribes to co-manage inland and migratory fisheries in a manner considerate of respective organization missions
• Recognize and acknowledge interests and available resources unique to special interest groups and collaborate where there is alignment with Division priorities, and shared interest in protection and enhancement of Maine’s freshwater fisheries
• Identify conservation priorities, create public awareness, and encourage potential partner investments to conserve wild native fishes, particularly considerate of the need to manage for resiliency in the face of a changing climate
• Continue collaboration with the Department’s Information and Education Division to develop and broadly disseminate information using current communication technologies, including information regarding freshwater fisheries management, angling opportunities, and the importance of native fish conservation

Population demographics and associated attitudes regarding public use are changing, and waterfront real estate costs are increasing as supply decreases. Continuing to make investments that secure public access will remain an urgent priority to ensure future generations will have adequate fishing and boating access to waters throughout the state.

Some actions to help reach this goal include:

• Identify and update land and water access priorities for boating, shore fishing, and walk-in access to remote ponds and develop and implement appropriate strategies to retain or secure these priorities
• Create a range of water access opportunities and improvements that are focused on ADA accessibility
• Develop a broad-based maintenance regime to address maintenance and improvements at access sites owned by the Department
• Implement strategies to ensure access sites are visible and easy to locate by the public
• Engage and support private landowners that provide traditional access to ensure those sites remain open to public access
• Refine engineering designs to create low maintenance access with long-term site durability

A forward-looking and progressive approach to staffing and infrastructure needs will best support future Division operations. Division of Fisheries and Hatcheries staff are passionate about preserving, protecting, and enhancing Maine’s inland fisheries. While their commitment is nationally recognized, continued investments in operational efficiency, staff development, consistency, and transparency will help maintain credibility in decision making and program management, as well as provide support for budget planning.

Some actions to help reach this goal include:

• Support professional development of staff to facilitate the growth of skilled managers and leaders
• Model a welcoming and diverse culture that fosters teamwork and inclusivity
• Consider high-level priorities of state and federal plans in the development of program work plans in support of partner agency missions
• Update Fisheries Policies and, where appropriate, develop Standard Operating Procedures
• Systematically review fishing regulations, chapter rules, and statutes to ensure they’re up to date
• Develop an updated system of data collection, reporting, entry, and analysis
• Identify and prioritize facility and infrastructure needs within the Fisheries Management Section and Hatcheries Section
• Maintain Division offices to ensure adequate workspace, technology, sampling equipment, and storage facilities exist to successfully operate
• Review Division staffing needs and if necessary, advocate for changes considerate of core priority work programs, new and emerging priorities, increased administrative and coordination responsibilities of Fisheries Resource Supervisors, seasonal and temporary staffing opportunities, and current and future operational needs
• Explore staffing opportunities to increase investments in outreach, tracking, interagency coordination, and research related to the spread and distribution of aquatic invasive species, as well as provide for improved oversight of Division programs to prevent and remediate threats to native fish