The salmon business

The announcement this week that federal agencies will list wild Atlantic salmon in eight Down East Maine rivers as an endangered species was no surprise, nor was the derision with which the state’s political leaders greeted it. With that out of the way, it is now time to get down to business.

Business being the operative word. A National Academy of Sciences study on the genetics of wild Atlantic salmon has yet to begin. While it is unlikely that study can conclude beyond any scientific dispute whether the fish in question are a pure species or a distinct population segment or just mongrels, the findings of the study, and how the findings are interpreted by the agencies, are of valid interest to Maine and the future of the Endangered Species Act. But Maine should not sit idle while waiting for the study’s conclusion.

The central effect of this issue, away from the extremes of anti-government and environmental alarmists at opposite ends, is economic. There are legitimate concerns within the state about how a listing might affect the major Down East industries of agriculture, forestry and aquaculture. During the years in hich this listing was proposed, withdrawn, re-proposed and now finally imposed, the federal agencies have asserted that with a listing would come federal dollars, enough dollars to help the industries adapt and even come out ahead.

That has been the case with some Endangered Species Act listings elsewhere. It could be the case here, but the only way to find out is through thoughtful and respectful negotiation. While the tendency to rant is understandable, those so inclined should remember that a solid year of ranting about the Interior Department’s decision to rescind its approval of the state conservation plan accomplished nothing.

The two most immediate concerns of the federal agencies are the use of water from the Down East rivers for blueberry irrigation and the escape of farmed salmon from their growth pens. These are both engineering problems, and not especially advanced engineering at that. The blueberry industry has wisely toned down its rhetoric recently and put its energies instead into developing irrigation plans that will not drain the rivers. The solution, some combination of impoundments, ponds and wells, will require money. There is every reason to expect a significant amount of that money will be federal, given the frequent explicit assurances by federal officials of assistance and the implicit assertion through the ESA listing that restoring Maine salmon is now in the national interest.

Aquaculture should follow the blueberry industry’s example. For years, the salmon farms have argued, perhaps with good reason, that there is no evidence their escapees have any impact upon the wild runs. It is an argument that now is moot. The industry needs better, stronger pens and, with profit margins tight, it needs help designing and building them. If it is required to replace the current European strains of salmon, there will be considerable cost. Cost to be shared in the national interest.

There are many reasons why Maine’s political and business leaders must stop arguing and start negotiating. The agencies have 30 months to create a recovery plan and the plan, by law, must take economic impact into consideration – there is a lot of time to get Maine’s point of view included and its interests protected. While it is true, as Maine’s congressional delegation notes, that there is a federal budget shortfall of nearly $10 million in the fiscal year for salmon restoration in Maine, there is plenty of time for the agencies to be planning for the fiscal year 30 months from now.

Finally, Maine’s relationship with Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt is, to say the least, strained. It shows in the comments by Maine politicians and, given Mr. Babbitt’s less than straightforward handling of this entire matter – especially his enthusiastic support of the state plan and his sudden reversal – it is understandable. Come January, there will be a new administration and a new secretary. A fresh start is at hand. Recasting the entire debate as strictly business is the best way ensure it’s a good one.