Bridgewater

Name of River (s)

Town River Fisheries

Name of Warden

Peter Murray

Governing Body

Town River Fisheries Committee 

Name of Count Organizer

Peter Murray 

Name of Watershed Group

Contact Phone Number

508-944-4447

Email contact

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Status of Run

Year after year the numbers of herring that pass through the electronic counter we use for counting continue to dwindle, the results of restocking, while initially exciting, in the long run, appear to of had little effect and the numbers are still dropping, not just in the Town River but state-wide. The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries has banned the harvest and possession of river herring until January 1, 2012. In 2006 the National Marine Fisheries Service designated both Blueback Herring and Alewives as species of special concern. The large scale disappearance of river herring has generated considerable national debate about the causes. Factors often cited as contributing to the decline include physical obstructions to migration, over fishing, including offshore by-catch from ocean herring fisheries, poor water quality or inadequate spawning habitat and increased predation due to the recovering striped bass population as well as the staggering increased seal population. The large scale disappearance of river herring has generated considerable national debate about the causes. Factors often cited as contributing to the decline include physical obstructions to migration, over fishing, including offshore by-catch from ocean herring fisheries, poor water quality or inadequate spawning habitat and increased predation due to the recovering striped bass population as well as the staggering increased seal population. The resurgence of interest from the town of West Bridgewater with five new members joining the committee has been a big help with counting and monitoring efforts going on in both towns. Report of herring, alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus) and bluebacks (Alosa aestivalis) counted in the Town River, Bridgewater, MA during the spring of 2011: The counting is done utilizing a Smith-Root model 1100 counter and a submerged 10” (Potentiometric Bridge) tunnel. The counter was installed in the fish ladder adjacent to the dam at the Stanley Iron Works Park, High Street in Bridgewater on March 26th and removed on June 4^th. During this 71 day period we measured water temperatures between 52 and 70 degrees F. The total count recorded for 2011 was 93,312 fish.

Current Project

Volunteer Opportunities

 Spring fish counts. Boy Scout projects at Stanley Iron works and Eagle Scout projects including New Trails and observation points. Sign up information kiosk for river information.

Publications

web site  herringrun.info

Date Last Updated