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Do you know where stocked fish throughout the State of Maine come from? Our native fish populations thrive thanks to hardworking fish culturists across eight Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (IF&W) facilities. We spawn, raise, and stock the fish that anglers love to catch year-round!
Fish culturists stock over 800 Maine water bodies with 1 million trout and landlocked salmon — about 350,000 pounds! Imagine if we couldn’t do this work, if the waters you fish weren’t stocked. The financial ramifications, including decreased fishing license sales, decreased recreational opportunities, lower tourism numbers, could have a detrimental effect on Maine’s recreation economy.
Without fish culturists, IF&W would have no fish to stock, fewer recreational waters to manage, and native populations would see increased pressure and overuse issues.
On Feb. 3, IF&W Fisheries and Hatcheries Director Liz Latti testified before the Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, sharing that hatchery staff contribute over $300 million annually to Maine’s economy. She described our responsibilities as “important for the department’s fisheries management as well as the economy, and many tasks require extended workdays to maintain current production and public expectations.”
Our concerns aren’t far from reality: IF&W currently starts us at $17.69 per hour (about $36,000 per year). In order for IF&W to retain knowledgeable, experienced staff, and to fill chronically vacant positions with qualified hires, IF&W must pay a living wage. We join our co-workers and fellow MSEA-SEIU Local 1989 members in calling on the state to close the pay gap.
Jessie Kuester
Lakeville