BANGOR DAILY NEWS • November 1, 2022
For the second year in a row, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has proposed sweeping rule changes that will liberalize the regulations on wild native brook trout waters, State Heritage Fish waters and rare Arctic charr waters. The impetus of the proposed changes is to create bigger fish. The idea is harvesting more fish means those left behind will get larger. Fewer mouths to feed means more food, and more food means bigger fish. This flies in the face of science and historical records, ignores other factors that influence growth, and otherwise attempts to oversimplify what is a very complex and highly variable issue. We should increase the protection of our State Heritage Fish waters, not decrease it. We should be looking at providing more protection to our fish, not less. ~ Bob Mallard