Spring Smelting Gets Shut Down

The smelt need time to recover.

That's the word from the Maine Department of Marine Resources which is announcing a closure of the spring fishery starting this Friday.

DMR Commissioner Patrick Keliher says the closure will run from Stonington, Maine to the New Hampshire border.

“This closure will impact those who dip smelts in our coastal tributaries for recreational purposes,” states Commissioner Keliher. “Smelt are particularly vulnerable at this time as they move into these areas to spawn. What few smelt camps that remain on the Kennebec and its tributaries will be exempt from this closure.”

The closure will last for 90 days which should cover the spawning period.

The state only has a small commercial smelt fishery according to the department.