Fish Friends

The only wild Atlantic salmon populations left in the United States are here in Maine. It’s a keystone species, providing transport of crucial marine-derived nutrients into freshwater catchments, which in turn helps other species.

And the Atlantic salmon is endangered.

That’s why every year, a dozen or so schools in the Penobscot Watershed welcome salmon eggs into their classrooms and help them grow. It’s a big operation: BBWC volunteers pick up the eggs from hatcheries and transfer them into classroom tanks. Then the kids take over, keeping the water clean and the temperature right.

Finally, when the salmon are ready, they get a grand send-off with help from BBWC. The salmon are tiny fry at this point, swimming energetically. The kids release them into the Wescott Stream. At the send-off, you’ll see signs and drawings and there may even be a song with Miss Jenni.

Recently the participating schools have included:

Camden-Rockport Elementary School

Captain Albert Stevens School BCOPE

Belfast Area High School

Children’s House Montessori School

Cornerspring Montessori

Edna Drinkwater School

South Elementary School

Troy Howard Middle School

Vinalhaven School

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Why do we do this? For one thing, it’s good for the fish and the watershed. With luck and fortitude, the fry will live in the freshwater for up to three years, and then migrate to the sea, where they’ll live for a couple of years before returning back to their home stream. They’ll spawn there, and may eventually return to the sea.

It’s also good for students. They learn about critical species, the importance of habitat, how to monitor temperature and record data, and what it feels like to contribute to the health of the environment.

How do we do this? Fish Friends is overseen by the Atlantic Salmon Federation in cooperation with the region’s federal fish hatcheries and agencies. As with everything we do, the BBWC portion is powered by volunteers, especially Penobscot Bay Stewards, and public donations.

Curious? Want to help out or host a Fish Friends project? Contact us >