BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 28, 2023
It sounds like a storyline from a feel-good nature documentary: A species of fish that coexisted with dinosaurs, then nearly went extinct and is now a major draw in some riverside communities. The return of sturgeon to Maine rivers and streams is an environmental and conservation success story. With better water quality and the removal of some dams, the waterways are more hospitable to wildlife, including sturgeon. Restrictions on fishing have also helped. The fish may also be helping the local economy. DownEast magazine recently published an article about the best bars in Maine for watching sturgeon, which tend to spectacularly jump out of the water. Seeing prehistoric sturgeon in Maine waters is an increasingly common way to connect with an amazing history and exciting part of Maine’s present.