Atlantic Salmon Freshwater Assessments and Research – Milford DMR Office
Project Location: Milford office of the Maine Department of Marine Resources Division of Sea-run Fisheries and Habitat.
Project Leader: Jason.Valliere@maine.gov
Project Time Frame: May 2024 – August 2024 (flexible with student/mentor schedules)
Total Hours: up to 480
Pay Rate: $17/hour
Gulf of Maine Atlantic salmon are the last wild populations in the USA and are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Continued management-based research and assessments are necessary to document population responses to management action and habitat improvements and restoration.
ME-DMR Division of Sea-run Fisheries and Habitats have been in a cooperative agreement with NOAA-Fisheries for several years with the purpose of preserving Atlantic salmon within the Gulf of Maine. Under this agreement ME-DMR staff conduct a variety of activities associated with Atlantic salmon management and recovery.
The majority of this project is field work based out of the Milford Dam, in Milford Maine. The intern will assist MDMR Scientist with tasks associated with the daily operation of the Milford Dam fishway trap and sort facility, including enumeration of diadromous and resident fish species passing through the facility, collection of adult Atlantic salmon broodstock, and collection and stocking of adult river herring in high priority restoration lakes and ponds. The intern will learn fish species identification and proper fish handling techniques, be responsible for accurately recording data, and be expected to operate electronic fish counters and video equipment. The intern will also be responsible for preparing scale samples collected from Atlantic salmon and river herring for age analysis. A clean driving record is a requirement as there may be a need to use a State of Maine vehicle for project needs.
The intern would assist in:
- Assist with daily tending of the Milford trap and sorting facility
- Preparation of Atlantic salmon and river herring scales for analysis
- Experience with fish ID, fish handling, data recording, and sample processing
- Assist with other field work as required – this may include juvenile river herring assessments and monitoring, fishway inspections, etc.
Opportunities include:
- Getting to know and work with scientists from state and federal agencies
- Exposure to fisheries science and enumeration techniques
- Learn fish identification and proper handling techniques as this position will be working with endangered Atlantic salmon