Assessment of Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Genetic Diversity in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar)

The eastern coastal rivers of North America have historically supported
anadromous populations of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Numbers of these
animals have declined due to overfishing and loss of habitat, and population
numbers have been supplemented by stocking efforts that span at least the last
hundred years. Often, these stockings used fish of diverse origins. This is
exemplified by the fact that several Maine rivers were stocked with Canadian
fish from at least two locations. Because of this stocking history, it is not
known if significant remnants of native Atlantic salmon stocks exist in the
coastal rivers of Maine. Atlantic salmon in five Maine rivers were designated
as category 2 candidates for listing under the Endangered Species Act in 1991
in response to the precipitous decline in population numbers. In October 1993,
all anadromous U.S. Atlantic salmon were included in a petition to the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for a Rule to List the species under the
Endangered Species Act.

Information was obtained from http://www.lsc.usgs.gov