We recently told you about volunteer opportunities to help restore and improve river herring runs by joining monitoring and clean-up efforts in your local watershed. But another spring spawning fish that is also in need of help is the river herring’s close cousin – the shad.

Like river herring, shad spend the majority of their adult lives at sea but return to freshwater to spawn each spring. During this migration these nutrient-rich fish attract a whole host of land and marine predators, including birds (ospreys, herons, eagles), mammals (whales, harbor seals, river otters) and larger fish (Atlantic cod, striped bass, tuna). They are a vitally important link in the food chain.

Historically, millions of shad migrated up East Coast rivers and streams. From the 19th century and well into the 20th, in-river fisheries thrived and sustained local economies. And up and down the coast, festivals were held to celebrate the return of shad and river herring to their natal streams. Some festivals are no longer celebrated, perhaps because of the decades-long decline in these fish populations. Many shad populations, for example, are currently at all-time lows and do not appear to be recovering. This dramatic downturn is likely due to a combination of factors: overfishing, pollution and habitat degradation, and bycatch losses in ocean fisheries.

Check out this list of river herring and shad festivals. If one is nearby, make sure to join the celebration to honor these important fish. Stay in touch with the Herring Alliance as we continue our efforts to protect these fish.

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