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An Act To Improve Survival Rates of Salmon and Other Migratory Fish Transitioning from Freshwater to Saltwater Environments
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA c. 606, sub-c. 2  is enacted to read:
SUBCHAPTER 2
SMOLTIFICATION SUCCESS RESEARCH
§ 6151. Smoltification success research program
The commissioner shall establish a smoltification success research program, referred to in this section as "the program," within the department. The purpose of this program is to develop reliable scientific information for use in management of pollution control efforts and pollution licensing decisions.
 
1.  Research; data collection.     The program must include investigation of external influences on smoltification success and metamorphosis success of nonsalmonid anadromous species and smolt migration success. Specific attention must be given to evaluating the effects of industrial and sewage treatment plant effluents and other pollutants on the timing of smoltification. The program must collect smoltification data and ensure continuity of data collection.
 
2.  Policy investigations.     The commissioner shall develop in the program the capacity to systematically analyze the effects of a variety of chemicals found in effluents under subsection 1 on the timing of the development and physical health of smolts and recommendations for conservation and management options. The analysis must include the effluence of biological substances such as pheromones from land-based aquaculture. Analysis of these effects must be conducted cooperatively with the industries and communities that discharge effluents into rivers that are significant for Atlantic salmon and other diadromous fish species.
 
3.  Cooperation.     The commissioner shall cooperatively develop and coordinate the program with the University of Maine.
 
4.  Report.     The commissioner shall prepare and submit to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over marine resources matters an annual report on the success of the program.
 
5.  Funds.     All federal and state funds obtained by the department for smoltification success research must be used to achieve the objectives of this subchapter.
 
SUMMARY
This bill directs the Commissioner of Marine Resources to establish a smoltification success research program to investigate the external influences on smoltification success and metamorphosis success of nonsalmonid anadromous species and smolt migration success. Specific attention must be given to evaluating the effects of industrial and sewage treatment plant effluents and other pollutants on the timing of smoltification. The program must include the capacity to systematically analyze the effect of a variety of chemicals found in effluents on the timing of the development of and physical health of smolts and recommendations for conservation and management options. The analysis must include the effluence of biological substances such as pheromones from land-based aquaculture. Analysis of these effects must be conducted cooperatively with the industries and communities that discharge into rivers that are significant for Atlantic salmon and other diadromous fish species.