MAINE PUBLIC • August 15, 2023
The running of the alewives is one of Mother Nature's great spectacles. These small anadromous fish power upstream to reach their spawning grounds, and thousands of people flock to streams to witness the drama every spring. This first Borealis story explores the 11 mile pilgrimage Maine alewives take from the salty Gulf of Maine to Highland Lake. Zachary Whitener of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute explains why these fish are crucial to land and sea ecosystems, and how conservation efforts in the last few decades have helped the population recover. Plus, Deb and Mark Wilson talk about the "fish ladder" at Damariscotta Mills and how alewife harvests are crucial to the local economy.