BANGOR DAILY NEWS • August 29, 2021
As of the latest trap count report provided Aug. 23 by the Maine Department of Marine Resources, only 520 Atlantic salmon have passed through the Milford and Orono dams this year. That is fewer fish than were counted, as of the same date, in each of the previous four years and represents the fourth lowest total since 2000. But one down year doesn’t spell disaster for the species. Last year, 1,458 Atlantic salmon made their way through the Penobscot River dams, according to the Maine Department of Marine Resources. It was the highest return since 2011. It is possible more salmon will appear prior in the Penobscot before the end of the year.