BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 12, 2024
Fishing the Penobscot River, I had a memorable Atlantic salmon fishing experience within eye shot of downtown Bangor. Imagine that? Will those days ever return? It is not beyond the realm of possibility. According to a recent news report, “The last wild Atlantic salmon that return to U.S. rivers have had their most productive year in more than a decade, raising hopes they may be weathering myriad ecological threats. Officials counted more than 1,500 of the salmon in the Penobscot River, which is home to the country’s largest run of Atlantic salmon. Since dam removals and restoration of the Penobscot’s River’s water quality, the return of, not only the salmon, but other species as well is a stunning demonstration of nature’s incredible capacity to recover from environmental degradation if given a chance.