River herring return to Weymouth en masse 5-2-18

River herring return to Weymouth en masse
May 2, 2018
Wicked Local Weymouth
By Weymouth News staff

River herring, also known as alewives, returned to the Weymouth Herring Run in large numbers on Wednesday as temperatures rocketed into the 80′s.

Thousands of herring were visible making their way towards the fish ladders in Jackson Square today.

Herring prefer water temperatures between 53 and 60 degrees to make the annual migration to Whitman's Pond through the herring run, which goes through Jackson Square in East Weymouth.

The alewives begin their journey northward from the mid-Atlantic off the Carolina coast in late March through mid-May.

The river herring is a small silvery fish that migrates from the ocean to Whitman's every spring to mate and lay eggs before they return to the sea a few months later.

Weymouth Herring Warden George Loring said the herring run has been averaging 250,000 herring over the past five to six years.

The river herring's journey through the Back River makes them vulnerable to birds of prey that include king fishers, black crowned night heron, osprey and seagulls.

"The night heron and seagulls especially want the herring," Loring said.

Loring said seals, tuna and sharks also enjoy feasting on river herring.