Diadromous (migratory) fish are experiencing a 'rebirth' of late. Researchers, managers, and communities are recognizing that restoring migratory fish can benefit the health of entire river ecosystems. However, in many regions, including the Penobscot River and the Gulf of Maine, diadromous species restoration is occurring in a scattered and uncoordinated fashion. The Diadromous Species Restoration Research Network (DSRRN) will integrate these diverse activities in ways that improve understanding of ecosystems and enhance restoration outcomes. Diadromous fish, such as Atlantic salmon, present unique management and conservation challenges as they move between local habitats lakes and rivers and regional/international waters during their lives. DSRRN will facilitate the study of questions fundamental to diadromous fish ecology and restoration through scientific meetings, workshops and local networking. DSRRN will enhance coordination of diadromous species restoration efforts of academic, government, and watershed stakeholders in the Penobscot River by providing administrative structure, and by supporting information management and outreach.
The strength of DSRRN is its integration with the Penobscot River Restoration Project in Maine, the most ambitious restoration effort ever proposed for a watershed of this size. This project is significant because of its magnitude, its collaborative nature, and the very real potential to restore a diverse community of fishes that have important commercial and recreational value. The knowledge gained from DSRRN's efforts will guide future restorations of these valuable natural resources.
is a network of researchers, managers, and practitioners from academic, government, tribal, and non-governmental organizations actively working in research and restoration of diadromous fish species occurring in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. The primary goal of DSRRN is to maximize opportunities for science exchange, networking, and collaborations via workshops, conferences, and meetings. By assembling teams of specialists and providing multiple opportunities to meet for effective scientific discussions, DSRRN is a lead convener and collaborative-capacity builder for Northwest Atlantic diadromous species research and restoration. DSRRN is the result of a National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Coordination Network (RCN) grant that was awarded to the University of Maine Senator George Mitchell Center for the Environment and Watershed Research and the University of Southern Maine from 2008 to 2013. DSRRN conducted four science workshops, one stakeholder meeting, and two large science meetings: 2013 Final Science Meeting -- Diadromous Species Restoration Science 2013: Migration, Habitat, Species Interactions, and Management 2013 Workshop -- Science and Management of Diadromous Species Restoration 2011 & 2012 Workshop -- Variability of North Atlantic Diadromous Fish Populations: Establishing Reference Points for Restoration Assessment Part I and II 2010 Workshop -- Resilience of North Atlantic Diadromous Fish Assemblages: a Restoration Perspective 2009 Science Meeting -- Restoration of Diadromous Fishes and Their Ecosystems: Confluence of Science and Restoration 2008 DSRRN Stakeholder Meeting -- Restoration Goals for the Penobscot River and Bay During the duration of the grant, the DSRRN Team created and maintained a clearinghouse website (http://umaine.edu/searunfish/), regular newsletters, a KnowledgeBase of bibliographic information, and an extensive membership database. The Team also held meetings of the Penobscot Science Exchange to facilitate coordination of diadromous species restoration efforts on the Penobscot River by providing information exchange, administrative structure and outreach. DSRRN Project Outcomes DSRRN Science Workshops and the DSRRN-sponsored Penobscot Science Exchange generated several peer-reviewed journal articles and a book chapter that synthesizes the larger themes discussed at the workshops: Restoring Geomorphic Resilience in Streams by N. Snyder. In Gravel-bed Rivers: Processes, Tools, Environments, First Edition. Edited by M. Church, P. M. Biron and A. G. Roy. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 2012. Re-colonization of Atlantic and Pacific rivers by anadromous fishes: linkages between life history and the benefits of barrier removal by G. R. Pess, T. P. Quinn, S. R. Gephard, and R. Saunders. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, January 2014 Can Resilience Theory Help Guide Restoration of Anadromous Fishes? by J. Waldman, K. Wilson, N. Snyder, and M. Mather. Undergoing revisions for Fisheries. Anticipated publication in 2014. Integrating the ecosystem concept into anadromous fish research and management by E. P. Palkovacs, A. Jordaan, D. Hasselman, S. Gephard, K. Limburg, K. Wilson. Anticipated publication in 2014. A Penobscot River Synthesis by R. Saunders, K. Wilson, M. Collins, T. Sheehan, and T. Trinko Lake. Anticipated publication in 2014. Networking activities continue in the form of a DSRRN list serve with 414 current subscribers and DSRRN sponsored symposia at professional research meetings: Atlantic Salmon Ecosystems Forum. NOAA Fisheries Service, Orono, Maine, 2014 DSRRN participants provided input to the forum development and planning as well as funding for conference expenses and keynote speaker fees. DSRRN sponsored and organized the visit for the keynote speaker, Dr. Daniel Schindler, University of Washington, who provided a west coast perspective on Atlantic salmon restoration and management. Over 160 individuals attended. American Fisheries Society, Quebec City, Quebec, 2014 DSRRN has sponsored a two-day symposium focusing on river herring restoration using an ecological approach: "River herring: towards a holistic understanding." DSRRN members recruited and organized speakers. Interest in the symposium has been high; what was envisioned as a half-day session is now scheduled for two full days. More than half the talks are authored by individuals who have participated in past DSRRN events. DSRRN's Legacy and Future Vision DSRRN’s legacy is in the connections it has made among the research community, resource managers, tribal communities, and other key stakeholders representing a wide variety of disciplines and geographic regions and the fish that they study and steward. As it becomes clear that these fishes are far more mobile than was once assumed, management of and research on fish that cross multiple jurisdictional and ecological borders requires the collaboration and resources of multiple agencies and individuals. DSRRN laid the foundation for many fruitful collaborations that are ongoing today. We expect the connections DSRRN fostered will continue to stimulate additional joint ventures for years to come. A simple assessment of the efficacy of the DSRRN network is evident in the actions of participants at diadromous fish-focused symposia. Many attendees participated in DSRRN activities, leading to vigorous conversations and a ready exchange of ideas which we fully expect to lead to more collaborations and scientific advances in diadromous species research in the future.
