The Maine Department of Marine Resources manages this pond for a minimum commercial escapement of 35 fish per acre. The spawning escapement need for this system is 9,170 river herring passed upstream through three closed days per week during the fishery. The management plan has always achieved returns that meet the target escapement developed for this system or passed the total run upstream. There is no spawning below the pond. Beaver dams are a perennial problem at this location effecting upstream and downstream migration during periods of low flow. As with many small coastal runs, access to spawning habitat is influenced by spring and fall water levels necessary to permit upstream and downstream migration. Spawning does not occur in the stream below or above the commercial fishery for alewife. Blueback herring are not observed in this system and there are no historical records to indicate that blueback herring inhabited the stream.
The Franklin fishery at one time only harvested post spawn runback river herring. This practice is not permitted currently but likely had a significant affect on spawning stock, exploitation rates, and number of repeat spawning fish within the system historically.
Franklin Fishery
Source: Maine ASMFC River Herring Sustainable Fishing Plan
The Maine Department of Marine Resources manages this pond for a minimum commercial escapement of 35 fish per acre. The spawning escapement need for this system is 9,170 river herring passed upstream through three closed days per week during the fishery. The management plan has always achieved returns that meet the target escapement developed for this system or passed the total run upstream. There is no spawning below the pond. Beaver dams are a perennial problem at this location effecting upstream and downstream migration during periods of low flow. As with many small coastal runs, access to spawning habitat is influenced by spring and fall water levels necessary to permit upstream and downstream migration. Spawning does not occur in the stream below or above the commercial fishery for alewife. Blueback herring are not observed in this system and there are no historical records to indicate that blueback herring inhabited the stream.
The Franklin fishery at one time only harvested post spawn runback river herring. This practice is not permitted currently but likely had a significant affect on spawning stock, exploitation rates, and number of repeat spawning fish within the system historically.
Recent Posts