Connecticut River Migratory Fish Restoration Cooperative
In October 2023 federal, state, and nonprofit partners launched the Connecticut River Migratory Fish Restoration Cooperative (Cooperative). The new Cooperative will coordinate fisheries management and restoration in the Connecticut River watershed, continuing the work of The Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission (CRASC). There are ten members in the Cooperative; one natural resource agency member from each of the the four states, one member representing the public and appointed by the State Fish and Wildlife Agency Director from each of the four states, and two federal agencies. See names of Cooperators below. The Cooperative will determine the status of migratory fishes and their habitats and identify management actions necessary for restoring migratory fish in the New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, and Massachusetts Connecticut River basin. They are advised by a Technical Committee that includes fish biologist experts from each of the four states and two federal agencies. The Technical Committee evaluates the status and trends of American shad, alewife, blueback herring, shortnose sturgeon, sea lamprey, and American eel, and makes recommendations to the Cooperative for how to improve fish populations, fish passage, and fish habitat. The Cooperative Members and Technical Committee meets twice a year in spring and fall. The public is invited to all meetings. Contact Ken Sprankle (ken_sprankle@fws.gov) to be placed on an email list for notification of meetings.
Connecticut River Migratory Fish Restoration Cooperative Commissioners
| Federal | Wendi Weber - Acting Regional Director, Northeast Region, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Michael Pentony - Regional Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries |
| Connecticut | Peter Aarrestad - Director, Fisheries, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection |
| Massachusetts | Mark Tisa - Director, Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife Andrew Fisk- Public Sector Representative (Appointed by State Fish and Wildlife Agency Director), American Rivers |
| New Hampshire | Scott R. Mason - Executive Director, New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game Scott R. Decker - Public Sector Representative (Appointed by State Fish and Wildlife Agency Director), Merrimack River Watershed Council |
| Vermont | Christopher Herrick - Commissioner, Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife David Deen - Public Sector Representative, (Appointed by State Fish and Wildlife Agency Director) |