International agency intervenes for river

OTTAWA, July 26 (UPI) -- A joint Canadian-U.S. commission is urging Maine to end its ban on alewife migration, which has been in effect since 1995.

The International Joint Commission found there's no evidence the alewife would damage Maine's sport-fishing industry -- a conclusion also reached by the state's fisheries department.

The commission, based in Ottawa, Canada, urged Maine. Gov. John Baldacci to lift the ban at the Grand Falls fish ladder on the U.S. side of the St. Croix River following a July 10 meeting, Canwest News Service reported.

"Your administration's leadership is needed to help restore the ecological integrity of the St. Croix system," the commission co-chairs Herb Gray of Canada and Irene Brooks of the United States wrote.

"The IJC has weighed the scientific evidence, has considered the recommendations of its board, has gauged public sentiment in the basin, and has concluded that alewife passage in the St. Croix River should be restored."