$5 Million for Maine Atlantic Salmon Signed into Law

TU Praises Maine Senators and Administration for Cooperation

Contact:

10/30/2000 --  --  Contact: Jeff Reardon, New England Conservation Director, Trout Unlimited, (207) 373-0700;
Steve Moyer, Vice President for Conservation Programs, Trout Unlimited, (703) 284-9406

October 10, 2000. Camden, Maine…Trout Unlimited applauded U.S. Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins today for helping to secure the White House's approval $5 million in federal funding to help assure the recovery of Maine Atlantic salmon, which the President today signed into law.

Despite strong differences in opinion over the listing of Maine's Atlantic salmon under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), TU applauds the cooperation demonstrated by the administration and the two Maine senators to increase federal funding for Atlantic salmon's habitat protection and restoration as part of the Interior Appropriations legislation.

"The funding that Maine's Senator Snowe and Senator Collins championed is an important step toward improving the on-the-ground efforts required to save Atlantic salmon," said Steve Moyer, TU's Vice President for Conservation Programs. "However, it is critical that the cooperation continues once the salmon are listed under the protection of the Endangered Species Act this fall."

The $5 million will be used to support "on the ground" projects, consistent with the Maine salmon restoration plan, land and conservation easement acquisition, water conservation, and aquaculture mitigation.

"ESA listing is not a luxury for Atlantic salmon--we have long passed the point where any other option exists if we hope to actually recover Atlantic salmon in Maine," said Moyer. "The bottom line is that salmon need substantial federal funding and legal protection now to work in tandem with an aggressive state conservation plan and substantial state funding."

Trout Unlimited is the nation's leading coldwater conservation organization with125,000 members and 500 chapters nationwide working to conserve, protect and restore trout and salmon watersheds throughout North America.

Date: 10/30/2000