NFC Talks Big Reed Pond Arctic Charr Regulations Roll-Back

“In the late 1990s, the rare Arctic charr of Big Reed Pond in northern Piscataquis County, one of only twelve populations remaining in the Contiguous United States, collapsed under the weight of highly invasive nonnative smelt.”

NFC Executive Director Bob Mallard was recently interviewed for an article on Arctic charr in Maine magazine. One of several quoted, his position was more pessimistic than others. Bob felt it was too early to declare victory, had concerns about the genetic diversity of the restored population, and was afraid Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) would roll back the protective regulations as soon as they felt things had stabilized.

“[Big Reed Pond] looks good, but we need to wait a few more years before we claim victory… [Mallard] worries about the resilience of Big Reed’s limited gene pool and the state’s historical eagerness to roll back restrictions (such as bans on trolling, harvesting, and use of live bait). -BOB MALLARD”

While criticized by some as being alarmist and presumptuous, Bob’s predictions proved all to real when MDIFW recently went public with a proposal to roll back the current fly fishing only (FFO) and catch and release regulations, and replace them with artificial lures only (ALO) and a 2-fish limit. And to be clear, in Maine, while FFO is restricted to single-point single-hook flies, ALO allows treble hooks, multi-hook lures, and artificial bait such as PowerBait or Gulp.

“In August, IFW released a 163-page regulation change proposal. As part of it, they are proposing that the FFO and C&R restrictions be replaced with ALO and a 2-fish limit on Big Reed Pond. -BOB MALLARD”

Per MDIFW, the request to roll back the regulations on Big Reed Pond came from a private business: Bradford Camps. The proposal was challenged by Maine Chapter NFC, Trout Unlimited, Libby Camps, arguably the most respected Sporting Camp in Maine, as well as brook trout activist Gary Corson (who first discovered the Big Reed pond smelt.)

Regardless of the opposition, and lack of any real need or urgency, Bob predicts the regulation changes will go through. Let’s hope Mallard is wrong this time…

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A rare Maine Arctic charr. BOB MALLARD