MADISON — Maine officials are hoping a new study will help restore the brown trout fishery on the Kennebec River.

A Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife biologist says competition for food and habitat among fish populations in the river has stunted growth of the trout.

The Portland Press Herald reports next week, the department will launch a two-year study of brown trout in the river after hundreds of fish, which have been surgically implanted with microchips, are released from hatcheries into the river and tracked for information on habitat, movements and mortality rates.

Biologist Jason Seiders says once it’s learned how the fish are behaving, biologists can learn how to better manage the river.