PO Box 51, Dresden, Maine 04342 info@alewifeharvesters.org 207-441-3006

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Charting a new course for river fisheries in Maine

The Alewife Harvesters of Maine is a group of fishermen, conservation commissioners, biologists, environmental advocates, and other concerned citizens  who have joined together to conserve alewives, and to  preserve the river-fishing heritage of Maine. We work  in collaborative partnerships to restore fish passage to  spawning grounds and cooperate with state and federal agencies on fisheries research and management  Started in 2007 to defend Maine’s river fisheries,  AHM has worked with scientists and fishery managers  from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission  and the State or Maine to allow harvest in Maine un-  der high standards of sustainability.

What has AHOM done for you?

The organization began in response to development  of Amendment 2 to the Shad and River Herring Man-  agement Plan, which threatened to shut down alewife  fisheries along the coast. The work carried over into  an Endangered Species Act challenge.

•We provided a voice and presence at the Atlantic  States Marine Fishery Commission, at the New  England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management  Councils, and in the Maine Legislature.

•We represented the interests of harvesters andharvesting towns at the Commission and Council  Meetings.

•We helped train harvesters to collect samples that•directly contributed to the sustainable harvest  plan accepted by ASMFC from Maine for  Amendment 2.

•We helped keep the Maine river herring harvest  open.•We worked with scientists and managers to produce position statements and testimony that asserted how river herring did not need protection  under the Endangered Species Act.

•We worked with Maine State legislators to overturn the closure of the St. Croix River to alewife, a law that threatened that population with extinction.

•We helped restore an alewife run and fishery on harvesting towns at the Commission and Council  Meetings.

•We helped train harvesters to collect samples that•directly contributed to the sustainable harvest  plan accepted by ASMFC from Maine for  Amendment 2.

•We helped keep the Maine river herring harvest  open.•We worked with scientists and managers to pro-  duce position statements and testimony that as-  serted how river herring did not need protection  under the Endangered Species Act.

•We worked with Maine State legislators to over-  turn the closure of the St. Croix River to alewife,  a law that threatened that population with extinc-  tion.

•We helped restore an alewife run and fishery on North Haven Island.

The organization began in response to development  of Amendment 2 to the Shad and River Herring Management Plan, which threatened to shut down alewife  fisheries along the coast. The work carried over into  an Endangered Species Act challenge.

What will Alewife Harvesters of Maine  do for you?

Above all, AHM will continue to promote  sustainable community-based management  of current alewife runs andfisheries. Join  AHM today to become part of our growing  organization, diverse partnerships, and ex-  citing initiatives!

•Continue to work with Maine DMR to  offer workshops on scale sampling and  harvest methods to maintain a secure sustainable harvest.

•Serve as the watchdog and industry  voice for the alewife and blueback herring fisheries in policy-making at the  state, regional and federal levels.

•Support the maintenance and opening of  historic and potential new alewife runs in cooperation with government agencies and conservation groups.

•Work with harvesters and municipalities  to maintain and improve harvest plans,  contracts and operations on existing  runs.

•Support exploration of market opportunities and strategies for alewife marketing, processing and distribution.

•Distribute current news and background  information on Maine’s alewife and blueback herring fisheries.

Please consider joining us becoming a member or by donating to Alewife Harvesters of Maine.