Banner02
Print

Volunteers needed for annual herring count 2-15-14

Volunteers Needed for Annual Herring Count
Patriot Ledger
Posted Feb. 15, 2014 @ 6:00 am

The North and South Rivers Watershed Association is seeking volunteers to count herring from April 1 through May 31.
The association's watershed ecologist, Sara P. Grady, will coordinate the effort on behalf of the Massachusetts Bays National Estuary program.
"Herring numbers have declined recently, and that plays a crucial role in the coastal food web," Grady said. "As a forage fish, they support populations of fish such as striped bass, and birds such as herons and osprey."
Herring populations have been declining in recent years for a variety of reasons. Those reasons include being unable to reach spawning grounds because of dams of non-operational fish ladders. , including an inability to get to their spawning grounds due to dams or non-operational fish ladders.
This study will help identify problems that impede the ability of herring to reach those places.
The counting will occur six to nine times a day between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. at four locations:
First Herring Brook in Scituate.


-South River in Marshfield.
-Herring Brook in Pembroke.
-Third Herring Brook in Norwell.


The watershed association hopes volunteers can commit to counting for 10 minutes a few times per week.
The association is making a push for volunteer help for the third consecutive year, but according to Grady, "two years isn't enough time to make any conclusions about population trajectory, so the importance of having consistent counts for many years – and lots of volunteers to help with them – is paramount."
Volunteers must attend one of the training sessions that will be held between Tuesday, March 4, and Thursday, April 3. Time and location will vary, and registering 24 hours in advance will be required.
To volunteer, contact Grady at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 781-659-8168.

From Forum

Herring Public Forum Exemption to Wetland Act for herring protection
DaveC > 25-July-2016

Herring Run Counts 2015 Herring Counts
DaveC > 25-July-2016

Herring Management Town Brook alewives get a free ride to Billington Sea
KnightofNi > 29-April-2016

Herring Public Forum River Herring Migration Series at WHOI
KnightofNi > 30-April-2015

Eels Fines Increased for Herring Poaching
Jones River > 15-April-2015

river herring blog

rss

DMF Proposed Regulation Changes on Opening of Rivers for River Herring Harvest

Hello River Herring Network members,

The MA Division of Marine Fisheries is proposing a...

2016 Annual Meeting Summary

Thank you to all who made the 2016 River Herring Network annual meeting a success! Sixty people...

Save the Date! Annual Meeting on October 27, 2016

Save the Date!
The 6th Annual River Herring Network Meeting will take place on:

Thursday October...

More Blog Posts