Our short documentary about efforts to restore Atlantic Salmon in the Penobscot Nation’s waters is now available to watch for free online. https://vimeo.com/945791477
This film shares the story of an inspiring collaboration between the Penobscot Nation’s Department of Natural Resources, scientists at the State of Maine’s Department of Marine Resources and others who worked together on the “Salmon for Maine’s Rivers” project to help bring Atlantic Salmon back home to Penobscot Nation’s waters. This short film shows the release of adult egg-bearing salmon into the river and follows the team of scientists who tracked and studied these fish. Penobscot Nation citizens share their perspectives on the importance of Atlantic Salmon to their Tribe and describe their efforts to restore this native species, which is endangered in the United States and found only in a few rivers in Maine in concerningly small numbers. Historical threats to Atlantic salmon include dams, over-fishing and pollution. Although pollution and fishing issues have been greatly diminished for many decades, delay, injury, mortality, and poor passage efficiency at hydroelectric dams still plague restoration efforts. Multiple studies and over 100 years of restoration efforts in the Penobscot River, efforts that include the internationally renowned Penobscot River Restoration Project, have clearly demonstrated that free-flowing rivers provide the best opportunity for Atlantic salmon recovery.
“And now we have a section of Penobscot that’s free flowing like my ancestors saw it,” shares Penobscot Nation Elder and longtime river advocate Butch Phillips. “The fish and the insects and the animals all now can enjoy the river like their ancestors did, you know.”
“I hope that our future generations are able to experience Salmon in a way that I haven’t,” says Madeline Huerth, a Penobscot Nation citizen and Water Resources Field/Lab Technician at the Penobscot Nation Dept. of Natural Resources, “I hope that future generations are able to…live like how our ancestors used to. And I hope our ecosystems just keep getting healthier.”
“Salmon Restoration on the Penobscot River” was awarded Best Documentary Short of 2025 at the Castine Film Festival, has screened at Penobscot Nation and at film festivals across the country, and aired on Maine Public television. It is now available to watch online for free.
Chuck Loring, Jr., the Director of Penobscot Nation’s Department of Natural Resources, comments on how this film came to be:
“This film idea grew out of discussions with Sunlight Media Collective around trying to get positive messaging out about our work amongst the Penobscot Nation Dept. of Natural Resources programs. We decided to start with Atlantic salmon and fisheries because of the availability of several opportunities to film adult fish on Penobscot Nation lands. Many of our partners know the capabilities of our department and the possibilities that exist within our programs, but the broader audience of conservation and philanthropic interests outside of what is now known as Maine are not as familiar with our work. I am hoping this film will reach those wider audiences and inspire more conversations and collaborations, especially as we embark on the ambitious and meaningful work of land rematriation.”
