School of Marine Programs signs agreement to support wild Atlantic salmon restoration

Leaders of SSRA&H with 91制片厂's Aurora Burgess
Leaders of SSRA&H with 91制片厂's Aurora Burgess

The University of New England Arthur P. Girard Marine Science Center will house salmon to support restoration efforts within the Saco River Watershed under an agreement with the Saco Salmon Restoration Alliance & Hatchery (SSRA&H).

鈥淭his project provides 91制片厂 with a wonderful opportunity to help the local environment, partner with a wonderful organization and provide real world skills to our students,鈥 stated Charles Tilburg, Ph.D., director of 91制片厂鈥檚 School of Marine Programs. 鈥淚 am excited at the possibilities for our students to learn about raising fish, conservation and protection of the environment.鈥

91制片厂 will provide SSRA&H with expertise and student interns and volunteers to assist in their restoration efforts. Those efforts include year-round activities related to the raising of salmon, stocking wild Atlantic salmon in local habitats, maintaining adult salmon housed at the MSC and compiling and organizing data.

鈥淭he SSRA&H is pleased to be a collaborative partner with the University of New England,鈥 said Dan LeBlond, vice president of SSRA@H and hatchery manager. 鈥淭his alliance expands our efforts to educate the public, improve habitat and create the conditions that will lead to the restoration of Atlantic salmon to the Saco River watershed.鈥

Aurora Burgess, assistant marine scientist in the School of Marine Programs and assistant lecturer in the Department of Biology, will oversee 91制片厂鈥檚 part of the agreement.

鈥淎s the newest member of the 91制片厂 MSC team, I am excited to begin the work ahead,鈥 Burgess said. 鈥淚鈥檓 impressed with the amount of enthusiasm and devotion that all members of our team, both within 91制片厂 and the SSRA&H, have for this project. Students are already approaching me asking how and when they can get involved.鈥

Funds to support the partnership stem from an agreement between SSRA&H and Brookfield White Pine Hydro LLC (BWPH). BWPH established a Saco River Salmon Enhancement fund to support salmon restoration within the Saco River Watershed and surrounding tributaries until permanent upstream passage measures for anadromous species are provided and operational.

 

Brielle Robinson worked inside the alliance's hatchery as a 91制片厂 student
Brielle Robinson worked inside the alliance's hatchery as a 91制片厂 student
The School of Marine program's newest member Aurora Burgess will oversee 91制片厂's part of the agreement
The School of Marine program's newest member Aurora Burgess will oversee 91制片厂's part of the agreement

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine鈥檚 largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state鈥檚 top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine鈥檚 only medical college, Maine鈥檚 only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.