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Calling all volunteers! River herring need your help. Spring is here, and very soon we will be witnessing the annual return of two very important but depleted coastal species of fish: alewife and blueback herring--collectively known as “river herring.” Historically, nearly every river and stream along the East Coast supported healthy spawning runs of these fish. But today, river herring populations are at historic lows, with many runs having declined by as much as 95 percent. Why the dramatic decline? Most  agree that a combination of factors have contributed – or continue to contribute – to the decline of river herring, including overharvest by inshore fisheries, the construction of migration-blocking dams, alteration of river flow patterns, water pollution, predation, and bycatch in ocean fisheries.
Given all these obstacles, restoration of river herring runs seems like a daunting task. But many concerned individuals and organizations are taking on the challenge. For example, a number of watershed organizations, including several that recently joined Herring Alliance, are actively working to restore their river herring runs by removing dams, installing fish ladders and improving spawning and nursery habitat – all essential to the recovery of these “species of concern.” These types of efforts have succeeded in improving fish passage at many runs over the past decade. Here’s a short list of watershed associations that are looking for your help. Please comment if you have any volunteer opportunities to add. Buckeye Brook Coalition – Warwick, R.I. Ipswich River Watershed Association – Ipswich, Mass. Jones River Watershed Association – Kingston, Mass. North and South Rivers Watershed Association – Norwell, Mass. Parker River Clean Water Association – Byfield, Mass. Rivers Alliance of Connecticut – Litchfield, Conn.
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I noticed you’ve omitted the APCC River Herring monitoring program on your river herring blog. http://www.apcc.org/content/he...estoration
Perhaps they could be included
And us up in Maine!
Lloyd Davis Anadromous Fish Trust – Waldoboro, Maine Alewife Count Contact Stewart DesMeules at [email= This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ] This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it [/email] River/Culvert clearing day: May 7th @ 1pm. Contact [email= This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ] This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it [/email] More info: http://www.midcoast.com/~mvlt/alewives.html |
