Fish Happenings
Dutch World Fish Migration Day founder to screen a new film, “ Love Flows” at the Damariscotta Mills Alewife Festival. Click here for details. Be sure to join us for the 2019 Alewife Festival on Saturday, May 25 from 10am to 5pm!
Thursday, May 23: The alewives are in thick!!! They’re streaming by the fish house, into the harvesting area, and throughout the fish ladder. Come to the festival on Saturday or just come anytime to see the fish!! And the birds!! It’s truly an inspiring sight to see wildlife in such abudance.... and so close!!! Harvesting is underway— every weekday at 5am and again at 3pm with the exception of tomorrow afternoon due to the festival.
Scroll down for directions to fish ladder.
The 2019 Alewife Festival will be held on Saturday, May 25. We're expecting a great fish run this year, a festival that's better than ever, and a professionally timed "Run with the Alewives" 5k road race. See Events & Calendar for Festival details.
A shuttle bus to the Festival will be available all day from the Lincoln County Publishing Company parking lot at 116 Mills Road, Newcastle.
Run with the Alewives 5k - Online pre-registration
Directions to the Fish Ladder:
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Heading north on Route 1, take the Damariscotta exit to business Route 1. Go straight at the 4-way stop just past the Congregational Church. Take Route 215 north for approximately 1.6 miles. Look for a parking area just past the Austin Road on the left. Or, take the next left into the Fish House parking lot. From the fish house, follow the path behind the building; the harvesting area is ahead on the left and the fish ladder makes a right turn.
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Heading south on Route 1, take the Damariscotta exit and take a right on Rt 215 across from the Louis Doe Home Center. The parking lots described above are about 1.3 miles on left.
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Welcome to historic Damariscotta Mills, Maine – home of one of Maine’s oldest and most productive alewife fisheries. The fish ladder was constructed by the Towns of Nobleboro and Newcastle in 1807 at the state’s request after mills had blocked access to the fresh water falls for nearly a century. In 2007, after two centuries of use, the fish ladder needed a major restoration and the project was initiated by the Towns in collaboration with the Nobleboro Historical Society. Restoration of the fish ladder is critical to the health of the Damariscotta River alewife stocks. Alewives are an important part of the food chain and they contribute to the health of the marine environment and to the lakes and streams where the fish spawn. In the spring, alewives serve as a source of fresh bait for local lobstermen who are setting out gear after a winter ashore. The Towns of Newcastle and Nobleboro have harvested alewives since the 1700s and, by balancing conservation and economic goals, they have carefully tended the Damariscotta River alewife stocks. Today, all funds received for harvested alewives are spent to maintain and restore the fish ladder and harvesting area.
