BANGOR DAILY NEWS • February 23, 2021
The attack on catch and release angling by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is wrong-headed. It flies in the face of science and economics, and it is not working. The constant meddling in our fisheries is why we are now experiencing problems with regard to size, numbers, invasive species, etc. Landlocked salmon, the most moved-around species in Maine, are doing poorly in many waters. They don’t belong there. This husbandry-centric management needs to stop before Maine loses a big part of what makes it unique: Wild native fish. Our focus should be on natural abundance and size-quality, and the best way to get there is to stop trying to play God. ~ Bob Mallard