Hatchery Improvements on Tap

[woodseye]

For Immediate Release
May 23, 2003

Work to begin this summer on hatchery improvements
AUGUSTA, Maine -- Fishing and Tourism in Maine received a boost when voters
approved a $7.0 million bond bill this past November, earmarking this money
to the state's aging fish hatcheries. Funds from the bond will not only
increase the number of fish raised in the state, but could give a boost to
the state's economy as well. Work will begin this summer on improving
Maine's hatchery system. "This is an important step forward in the
revitalization of our fish hatchery system," said Commissioner Roland D.
Martin.

In 2001, over 376,000 people spent time fishing in Maine. According to a
2001 study by the American Sportfishing Association, those anglers generated
$322 million in retail sales, spent over $16 million in sales and fuel
taxes, and over $20 million in state and federal income taxes. All told,
those 376,000 anglers had an economic impact of over $541 million to the
state of Maine in 2001.

The department has contracted with Fish Pro, an engineering and scientific
firm from Springfield Illinois to oversee improvements at the six of the
nine state fish hatcheries. Fish Pro has contracted Wright-Pierce of Maine
to help coordinate the projects locally. Fish Pro is very familiar with the
state's hatchery system, having worked on the Comprehensive Statewide Fish
Hatchery System Engineering Study, which was sanctioned by the legislature.

Work is slated to begin this year, with oxygen boosting mechanisms at five
of the nine state hatcheries in Maine. This will allow the department to
increase the capability of these hatcheries to hold and grow not only more
fish, but bigger as well. Work will also begin on improvements to the
wastewater treatment systems at four of the facilities. By upping the
capabilities of these hatcheries to treat wastewater, the department will be
able to produce greater quantities of fish.

The last part of the plan is to redesign and rebuild the Emden Fish
Hatchery. Not only will the oxygenation systems and the wastewater treatment
systems be redesigned, the current raceway system will be demolished and
replaced with a circular tank system that is more efficient. These
improvements will vastly increase fish rearing capacity at Embden.

For Immediate Release May
23, 2003
June 10 is Moose Lottery Day
AUGUSTA, Maine -- On Tuesday, June 10, 2003, 2,585 names will be randomly
selected by a computer for the opportunity to hunt Moose in Maine this fall.
The annual moose lottery drawing will be held at the Old Town Elks Lodge,
located on 290 North Fourth Street extension in Old Town. The drawing will
begin promptly at 6:00.

This year 2,585 permits are available in 19 wildlife management districts
statewide. The published dates for the Moose Hunting Season this year are
September 22 - 27 in WMDs 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 11, and 19 and October 13 through
18, 2003 in Wildlife Management Districts 1- 14, 17, 18, 19, 28 and 29.