EAST MACHIAS, Maine - A group that seeks to restore the endangered Atlantic salmon will release 200,000 of the fish into the East Machias River this week.
The Atlantic salmon has been declared endangered in 11 Maine rivers, including the East Machias. The Downeast Salmon Federation is among a number of conservation organizations that is focusing on restoring the salmon.
The federation started stocking the salmon on Tuesday and will continue until at least Thursday. The effort could run into next week.
The restoration effort is part of the salmon federation's "Parr Project'' to grow the salmon population. The project has stocked hundreds of thousands of juvenile salmon, which are called parr.
The federation says the Parr Project has improved the success of stocking to a degree not seen in more than 20 years.