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AUGUSTA, Maine -- Fred Kircheis of Carmel, a Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Fisheries Research Biologist for 30 years has been named Interim Executive Director of the Atlantic Salmon Commission by Atlantic Salmon Board Commissioners Lee Perry and George LaPointe. Kircheis, who was named Fisheries Biologist of the Year this past spring will oversee the Atlantic Salmon Commission until a permanent director is named in October.
"This is a huge personal step. It^s hard to shut the door after 30 years, but it is time to move on," said Kircheis. "This position will be a very interesting challenge, and I^m looking forward to it."
Kircheis will oversee the program from Bangor, until the Atlantic Salmon Commission^s offices are moved to Augusta. Fall stocking of Atlantic salmon, Atlantic salmon sportfishing, salmon aquaculture and the Atlantic salmon conservation plan are all issues that will command his attention.
Biological research and implementing the recovery plans will also be directed by Kircheis, who said there still is a lot of research and inventory that must be done. "I will need to get out and tour Maine^s Atlantic salmon habitats and become familiar with the facilities and the people," said Kircheis.
As a research fisheries biologist for the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Kircheis^ work was well known. His efforts with Arctic char in Maine have provided substantially more habitat for these species in the state, including additional spawning habitat in Floods Pond and the establishment of two new reproducing populations. He has spoken at conferences around the world on work that has been done in Maine on Arctic char, and is widely recognized as an expert on the species in the United States.
When sea-run alewives were reintroduced in the mid-80^s into Maine waters where they were found historically, some anglers were concerned that the reintroduction of these species was hurting other game species now present in some waters. Kircheis recently completed eleven years of research on the effects of the alewives in freshwater systems, and his findings have had significant impact on the use of alewives in freshwater fisheries management programs.
Kircheis^s research also has impacted Maine trout hatcheries. He found that by making more food available to brown trout earlier in their lives, they had faster growth rates, and could be released as spring yearlings, as opposed to a fall yearlings. This cut down on the total pounds of live brown trout that had to be kept in hatcheries through the summer months, the amount of food that had to be purchased and freed valuable hatchery space for younger fish. His findings saved money and space for the department.
The Atlantic Salmon Commission, governed by three commissioners that comprise the Atlantic Salmon Board, was created by the legislature in its past session. The board replaces the 10-member Atlantic Salmon Authority.
Uploaded: 9/18/1999
Uploaded: 9/18/1999