Casco Bay and Climate Change

Climate, Ecology, FisheriesLeave a comment
Portland Sea Level Trend 1912-2015

Climate Trends In 2017 the University of Southern Maine, through USM Digital Commons, published “Casco Bay Climate Change Vulnerability Report.” It has been accessible at http://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1022&context=cbep-publications (accessed February 20, 2018). The following is a selection of its findings and conclusions. Temperature The Casco Bay region has experienced warmer summers; warmer winters; warmer waters; increased drought;…

Parlin Pond Township

Townships2 Comments
Parlin Pond (2004)

The township is just south of Jackman on U.S. Route 201. It is the only improved road, except for about two miles of Hardscrabble Road on its town line with Johnson Mountain Township to the south. Parlin Pond, the water body, is a two-mile long pond along U.S. Route 201 in the southern portion of…

Gulf of Maine

Coastal, EcologyLeave a comment
Gulf of Maine Currents

The Gulf of Maine extends from Cape Cod in Massachusetts, to the coasts of New Hampshire, Maine, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, and to Cape Sable, Nova Scotia. An important part of the Gulf is Casco Bay, which supports substantial varieties of marine life, but is in the midst of the highest concentration…

Shrimp Landings

Economy, FisheriesLeave a comment
Shrimp Landings 1962-2013

Despite an increasing tonnage of  shrimp landings by commercial fishermen in recent years, the 2013 season will  feature a landing quota equal to about 25% of the 2012 season’s landings.  Historically the shrimp populations have varied substantially. Marine scientists believe that the resource is again under pressure with the threat of another population  decline.  …

American Eel Landings

Economy, FisheriesLeave a comment
American Eel Landings 1964-2016

Otherwise known as the Common Eel or Freshwater Eel, they range in size of up to 6 feet for females and up to 2 feet for males. Color is olive-green to brown on the back, with yellow-green on the sides and gray-white below. Adults leave freshwater for the ocean to spawn, changing color to black…

Atlantic Salmon Landings

Economy, FisheriesLeave a comment
Cultured Atlantic Salmon Production 1990-2010

  The following is abridged from Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife internet site at http://www.maine.gov/ifw/wildlife/species/endangered_species/atlantic_salmon/ (accessed December 2, 2012) In Maine, Atlantic salmon were historically found in all major river systems and many of their tributaries with suitable spawning habitat. Today, they have disappeared from much of their historic range. In Maine they…

Dogfish Landings

FisheriesLeave a comment
Dogfish Landings 1964-2015

After two closures since 1964, a productive skate fishery still eludes commercial fishermen in Maine. The trendline in the Price per Pound chart is not very informative due to the erratic nature of the landings.   YEAR POUNDS VALUE PRICE/LB 1964 225,173 $1,216 $0.01 1965 377,574 $2,332 $0.01 1966 572,394 $3,510 $0.01 1967 180,984 $1,060…

Skate Landings

Economy, FisheriesLeave a comment
Skate Landings 1973-2011

Since 1973 the commercial fishery for skate had two, short lived, peaks.  It  has yet to recover from the decline that began in 1995.  The return had been modest at best, reaching $.25 per pound briefly. No landings were recorded from 2006 to 2009, and 2011-2016.   YEAR POUNDS VALUE PRICE/LB 1973 3,320 $268 $0.08…

Atlantic Redfish

Economy, FisheriesLeave a comment
Redfish Price per Pound 1950-2016

The once substantial landings of Atlantic Redfish by commercial fishermen began a severe, and as yet unending, decline, in 1962.  The many years of landings exceeding 60 million pounds has ended, with recent catches well below 200,000 pounds. The higher prices per pound are undoubtedly little comfort to those who have few fish to sell.…

Atlantic Pollock Landings

Economy, FisheriesLeave a comment
Pollock Price per Pound 1950-2016

From 1950 to about 1974, commercial fishermen saw relatively low total value and prices per pound when landing American Pollock.  Then the landings increased and so did the total value and the per pound price. As the big landings began to decline, the price per pound climbed to a range between $.60 and $.80.  With…

American Plaice Landings

Economy, FisheriesLeave a comment
Place price per pound 1950-2016

American Plaice had modest landings by commercial fishermen of one to two million pounds from 1950 through 1976.  It then jumped to six million per year that, with a few exceptions, was the minimum landing amount until 1995.  It then began to slip, again with a few exeptions, until landngs hit a six decade low…

Harrison

Cities & TownsLeave a comment
Historic 1912 Ryefield Bridge over the Crooked River between Harrison and Oxford (2017)

A growing community, its population has consistently expanded over the past forty years. From 2000 to 2010 alone it grew by nearly 18%. See photos and video. By 1847 a wood products mill, known as Scribner’s Mill, was in operation. An effort to restore it is underway. Just north of Naples, Harrison has substantial frontage on Long Lake, which it shares with Bridgton.

Androscoggin River

Ecology, RiversLeave a comment

rises in the northwestern corner of the state, enters New Hampshire at Errol, then crosses back in the Oxford County town of Gilead. It then heads north at Bethel to Hanover then Rumford and Mexico before turning south to Livermore Falls and the cities of Lewiston and Auburn, soon to join the Kennebec River in…

Alewives

Ecology, Wildlife2 Comments

      In the early 1600’s a dam was built in Nequasset, now a portion of Woolwich. It was the early primary power source for the town, the site of grist, saw, and fulling mills. The original wooden fishway provided a rich harvest of alewives, which was apportioned among the residents according to their…