Search
Close this search box.

Setting Our “Fish Friends” Free

Last week marked the end of Maine Audubon’s “Fish Friends” spring project. As we described previously, Fish Friends is an educational rearing program overseen by the Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) in cooperation with the region’s federal fish hatcheries and agencies. Designed primarily for classrooms, this year our own Gilsland Farm Discovery Room hosted the program as the only public location.

Maine currently has the last remaining wild population of Atlantic Salmon in the U.S. Once native to almost every river north of the Hudson River in New York, remnant wild populations are now found in only 11 rivers, all in Maine. As part of this project, we received eggs back in February, and hosted them in a temperature-controlled tank.

Well, our fish friends grew up. Watching them grow over the past few months — from eggs, to alevin and fry in time for World Fish Migration Day, and finally to Atlantic Salmon ready to face the world — has been an incredible and educational experience for staff and visitors alike! At last, it was time to say farewell.

Educators Karen Arno and Molly Woodring collect salmon from the tank at Gilsland Farm
Educators Karen Arno and Molly Woodring collect salmon from the tank at Gilsland Farm. (Ariana van den Akker/Maine Audubon)
Releasing Atlantic Salmon alevin into Mill Brook in Westbrook.
Molly carries the cooler of salmon through the woods to Mill Brook in Westbrook. (Ariana van den Akker/Maine Audubon)
Atlantic Salmon released into Presumpscot
The fish are gently released into the Presumpscot River. (Ariana van den Akker/Maine Audubon)
Releasing Atlantic Salmon alevin into Mill Brook in Westbrook.
Maine Audubon staff and friends watch as Atlantic Salmon swim away from the release site. (Ariana van den Akker/Maine Audubon)
Releasing Atlantic Salmon alevin into Mill Brook in Westbrook.
Newly-released Atlantic Salmon take in their freedom. (Ariana van den Akker/Maine Audubon)
A sign wishes our Atlantic Salmon well
Good luck, little salmon! (Ariana van den Akker/Maine Audubon)

Thank you to everyone who came by to visit with our salmon and see them as they grew!