In October 2023 federal, state, and nonprofit partners launched the Connecticut River Migratory Fish Restoration 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 Commissioners, representing natural resource agencies in four states, two federal agencies, and governor appointed members representing the public from each state. See names of Commissioners below. The Commissioners review 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 scientific and technical committees that include experts from each of the four states and federal agencies, as well as experts from the US Forest Service and the Connecticut River Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office.

The technical committees evaluate the status of American shad, alewife, blueback herring, and American eel, and make recommendations to the Commissioners for improving fish populations,  fish passage fish passage
Fish passage is the ability of fish or other aquatic species to move freely throughout their life to find food, reproduce, and complete their natural migration cycles. Millions of barriers to fish passage across the country are fragmenting habitat and leading to species declines. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Fish Passage Program is working to reconnect watersheds to benefit both wildlife and people.

Learn more about fish passage
, and fish habitat. The commissioners and technical committees meet 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

FederalWendi Weber - Acting Regional Director, Northeast Region, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Michael Pentony - Regional Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries
ConnecticutPeter Aarrestad - Director, Fisheries, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
MassachusettsMark Tisa - Director, Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife
Andrew Fisk- Public Sector Representative (Governor appointed), American Rivers 
New HampshireScott R. Mason - Executive Director, New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game
Scott R. Decker - Public Sector Representative (Governor appointed), Merrimack River Watershed Council 
VermontChristopher Herrick - Commissioner, Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife
David Deen - Public Sector Representative, (Governor appointed)

Since 1967, our office has worked with local environmental groups, private industry, and state and federal agencies to restore migratory fish in the Connecticut River basin. This collaboration continues and is focused on the long-term health of the Connecticut River.

 

 

USFWS Connecticut River Basin Annual Report - 2021

Executive SummaryFederal Aid Project # F-100-R-38 States: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont Project Title: Connecticut River Basin Anadromous Fish Restoration: Coordination and Technical Assistance Period Covered: October 1, 2020 - September 30, 2021...

USFWS Connecticut River Basin Annual Report - 2020

Aid Project # F-100-R-37 States: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont Project Title: Connecticut River Basin Anadromous Fish Restoration: Coordination and Technical Assistance Period Covered: October 1, 2019 - September 30, 2020 This annual report provides an opportunity to...

Connecticut River American Shad Plan 2020

INTRODUCTION The Connecticut River population of American Shad has been cooperatively managed by the basin state and federal fishery agencies since 1967. In that year the “Policy Committee for Fishery Management of the Connecticut River Basin” was formed in response to the passage of the 1965...

Public Law 98-138 cover page

PUBLIC LAW 98-138 0CT. 28, 1983 CONNECTICUT RIVER BASIN ATLANTIC SALMON COMPACT, CONGRESSIONAL CONSENT 31-139 0- 83 (139)

97 STAT. 866 PUBLIC LAW 98-138-OCT. 28, 1983 Public Law 98-138 98thCongress

An Act

To grant the consent of the Congress to an interstate...

Juvenile Northern Pike in aquarium at Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery, South Dakota
The Fish and Aquatic Conservation program leads aquatic conservation efforts for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We are committed to tackling the nation’s highest priority aquatic conservation and recreational challenges to conserve, restore, and enhance fisheries for future generations.