Rainbow Smelt 
In 2004, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration listed the rainbow smelt as a federal
Species of Concern. The rainbow smelt is a small fish
that lives in estuaries and offshore waters, and spawns in
shallow freshwater streams each spring. Its numbers have
dropped dramatically during the last fifteen to twenty
years for reasons that are not well understood.
Using scientific information from our collaborative efforts,
the state agencies of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and
Maine are developing a regional conservation and restoration
plan for rainbow smelt. Each state is determining the most
important threats from water quality, fishing pressure, or habitat
alteration facing smelt populations in their area. We are also
identifying regional threats, potentially including rising ocean
temperature and marine bycatch, and site-specific threats and
management recommendations, such as redesigning stream
culverts to allow fish passage.
- Visit http://restorerainbowsmelt.com/ for the latest smelt news from Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire
- Fourth North American workshop on rainbow smelt, Portland ME, Jan. 2011, includes abstracts of presentations
- Maine fishery landings data
- Maine ice fishing camps,
Merrymeeting Bay and its tributaries
- Description, picture, and general information from Do You Know Your Catch?
- Collaborative project to develop and implement
a conservation program for rainbow smelt - PDF file c/o NOAA OPR, 2 pages, 2.1 MB PDF files may requre Adobe Reader software (download here free) to view or print
- New England states rainbow smelt pamphlet - PDF file c/o NOAA OPR, 4 pages, 1.6 MB
- More information from NOAA Protected Resources Program, Rainbow Smelt page
- ME DMR Bureau of Sea Run Fish and Habitat restoration projects
