Maine is one of 10 coastal states that were awarded grants through the Species Recovery Grant Program. Funding will go towards conservation projects designed to recover marine mammals, sea turtles and fish species listed under the Endangered Species Act.
Authorized under Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, the Species Recovery Grants Program supports management, research and outreach efforts designed to bring listed species to the point where ESA protections are no longer necessary.
The following list includes 13 projects selected with the total amount of federal funding approved for each award, and the portion of federal support provided .
Maine Department of Marine Resources will receive $548,304 this fiscal year, with overall support totalling $1,027,754.
The grant will support the removal of the first migratory barrier on the Penobscot River, the Veazie Dam.
The dam removal will open historic habitat for endangered shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) and threatened Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus).
In addition to sturgeon, the dam removal will benefit 11 species of sea-going fishes, including endangered Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).
source: NOAA Fisheries