‘Alewife Days’ spring field trips for students expands; Maine DMR offers resources
Washington Academy students measure an alewife at a DMR Alewife Days event, co-hosted with the Passamaquoddy Pleasant Point - Sipayik Environmental Dept., in May 2025. (Photo courtesy Maine DMR)
Washington Academy students measure an alewife at a DMR Alewife Days event, co-hosted with the Passamaquoddy Pleasant Point - Sipayik Environmental Dept., in May 2025. (Photo courtesy Maine DMR)The Maine Department of Marine Resources Bureau of Sea-Run Fish and Habitat (BSRFH) announces the return of Alewife Days, a spring program that connects students with Maine’s annual alewife run through hands-on field trips timed with peak alewife migration in local rivers and streams.
Each spring, alewives return from the ocean to Maine’s lakes, creating a short, high-activity window for observation, according to Maine DMR, in a news release. Through Alewife Days, students visit local fishways during the run to watch fish climb ladders into their spawning lakes and, in some locations, see sturgeon jumping in the Kennebec and Androscoggin rivers. In 2025, schools from Yarmouth to Calais participated, and BSRFH is working to expand access to more schools statewide in 2026.
“This is a unique window each spring when alewives return in large numbers, and it’s an incredible opportunity for students to experience that natural event firsthand,” said Sean Ledwin, director of the Bureau of Sea-Run Fisheries. “We hope students not only see the fish, but also enjoy the natural beauty of Maine’s rivers, whether that’s spotting eagles overhead or other wildlife along the way.”
BSRFH is inviting schools to apply for transportation support to nearby alewife runs during the spring migration. DMR will offset busing costs for schools that qualify, according to the news release. DMR personnel can be available as nature interpreters in select locations.
Schools can register their visit at: https://forms.office.com/g/n7zaNmqNjT?origin=lprLink
Alewife Days coincides with a World Fish Migration Day year, with events happening globally leading up to May 23. Participating schools are encouraged, but not required, to register their trip as part of this international effort, themed “We Are River People.” Learn more at https://www.worldfishmigrationday.com/
Editor’s Note: Alewife runs in Maine typically occur from late April through early June, with timing varying by river system and water temperatures. Coastal and southern rivers generally see earlier runs, while inland and Downeast locations may peak later in the season, with peaks generally in mid to late May.
For additional information, please contact Theo Willis at theodore.v.willis@maine.gov or 207-894-4537.
Find information about alewife and other sea run species on DMR's website.
