1. Landlocked Atlantic Salmon Management and Methylmercury Chris Remsen
The Missisquoi River:
Landlocked Atlantic Salmon Management and Methylmercury
Chris Remsen

2. Samuel de Champlain
Reputed to have been the first European to view what is now Vermont, Champlain entered the lake on the fourteenth of July, Narrative published as Voyages in 1613.

5. The Missisquoi River
Drainage of surface waters in the Northern Green Mountains to Lake Champlain.
High mountains, cold winters, and short growing season have produced one of the least populated regions of the state.

6. The Missisquoi River
The biogeography of the region kept this ecosystem isolated and undisturbed.

7. The Abenaki
“People of the Dawn”, the original inhabitants of Vermont, prior to Samuel de Champlain.
Settlement of Missisquoi River fishing village prior to Samuel de Champlain.

8. The Abenaki
Cultural fishing traditions: ceremonial meals are central features of funerals, memorials, name-giving rituals, and weddings. Subsistence is another factor.

9. Methylmercury
The Westerly winds disperse Mercury particulates from coal burning power plants. Methylation occurs after wet and dry deposition. Bioacculmulation occurs through food chains via tissue.

10. Methlymercury Nearly 90% absorption in the GI tract.
Readily crosses the placental and blood brain barriers. Neurotoxicity from low dose exposure to the adult and fetus.

11. VT Dept. of Fish & Wildlife
People management: issue fish consumption advisories.
Fisheries: Restock salmon population on annual basis.

12. VT Dept. of Fish & Wildlife
Focused on output of methlymercury through consumption rather than input from particulates.
Replace reproductive adults salmon with juveniles to maintain population for anglers. Limited genetic variability.

13. EPA
Clear Skies Legislation: establish cap and emissions trading for mercury.
Purchase of pollution credits rather than reducing their emissions through scrubbers and bag-houses.

14. Coal Burning Power Plants
Largest single source of anthropogenic emissions at over 40% of the total anthropogenic load.
The Southern Company, American Electric Power, Edison International, and Tennessee Valley Authority produce 20% of all mercury pollution in the US.

15. Issues
The human health risk should justify a call for action at the state and federal levels to reduce mercury emissions.
Where is the discourse? Who is the audience? This topic must amplify from the scientific community to the general public.

16. Issues
VT Dept of Fish & Wildlife must address input through deposition to create real mercury risk reduction.
EPA must pursue a regulatory solution rather than cap and trade emissions through Clear Skies legislation.

17. Issues
Coal burning power companies: reduction in profit to reduce emissions and human health risk.
Abenaki: increased awareness of human health risk from fish consumption until a sustainable healthy salmon population can be restored.

18. The Charge
The 400 anniversary of Samuel de Champlain’s voyage quickly approaches. Will the health and sustainability of this ecosystem be restored?