Annual Report of the U.S. Atlantic Salmon Assessment Committee Report No. 20-2007 Activities

Total return to USA rivers was 1,255; this is the sum of documented returns to traps and returns estimated on selected Maine rivers. Adult salmon returns to USA rivers with traps or weirs totaled 1,216 fish in 2007, 3% less than observed in 2005 and 14% less than returned in 2006. Fifty-three adult (90% CI = 39 - 72) salmon were estimated to return to the rivers with Endangered populations, the 2th lowest for the 1991-2007 time-series. Most returns occurred in Maine, with the Penobscot River accounting for 74% of the total return. Overall, 24% of the adult returns to the USA were 1SW salmon and 76% were MSW salmon. Most (74%) returns were of hatchery smolt origin and the balance (26%) originated from either natural reproduction or hatchery fry. A total of 13,507,900 juvenile salmon (fry, parr, and smolts) and 3,877 adults were stocked, with 424,805 carrying a variety of marks and/or tags. Eggs for USA hatchery programs were taken from 447 sea-run females, 3,335 captive/domestic females, and 158 female kelts. The number of females (3,940) contributing was more than 2006 (3,603); and total egg take (22,074,000) was also more than in 2006 (20,537,000). Production of farmed salmon in Maine was reported to be 2,715 metric tonnes in 2007, about 60% of the 4,674 metric tonnes of production reported in 2006. 2008 NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) NEFSC (Northeast Fisheries Science Center) Submitted Public Domain 1930