Fishing has begun on the Saco River. On four dates in late June, researchers set fyke nets at eight sites along the river. They surveyed day and night and, except for one frightening microburst, had excellent conditions for field work. Hundreds of fish and shellfish were caught, identified, measured, and released. This project, focusing mainly on fish using the salt marsh, is part of a collaborative study with the University of New England that looks at the effects of upland land use on the river ecosystem.

Using a GPS receiver to save a point for mapping.

Fyke net set at a channel to capture fish coming off the salt marsh as the tide recedes.

Northern Pipefish with companions

Female stickleback full of eggs