Commercial and Recreational Sea-Run Fisheries

The Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is responsible for managing Maine’s 12 diadromous species, including the maintenance of populations according to Maine’s laws, rules and regulations as laid out in Title 12 (Conservation), Part 9 (Marine Resources). DMR has the authority to create regulations that conserve, propagate and sustain recreational and commercial sea run fisheries under Maine Revised Statutes Title 12; Part 9; Subpart 1; Ch. 607; Subchapter 1.

Major Fisheries

Several sea-run fisheries are managed by DMR in compliance with fishery management plans established by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). ASMFC is a multi-state management organization comprised of all coastal Atlantic States (Maine to Florida) that agree to manage cross-border species within state waters (3-miles) together.

Juvenile American eels, also known as elvers, are the most valuable sea-run fishery with harvesters earning between $1,000 and $2,000 per pound and the fishery netting between $10 and $20 Million in a given year. This fishery involves harvesting elvers as they migrate from spawning habitat in the southern Atlantic Ocean to rivers and streams in Maine. Elvers are primarily exported overseas where they are grown in aquaculture facilities to adult size and sold as food.

River Herring (alewife and blueback herring) support commercial harvest for over 30 municipalities in Maine’s coastal towns providing local revenue and a source of lobster bait for local fisherman.

Commercial fishing for smelt is permitted only in a few rivers in Washington County, Maine. Most fishing for smelt occurs at commercial smelt camps operated during winter on the lower Kennebec estuary, or during the spring personal use dipnet fishery.

Striped bass are the most popular sea-run fish species for recreational anglers and an important contributor to our state and regional tourism and recreation economy.