[SEMCO] NOAA Fisheries Seeks Participation in River Herring Harvest Survey

[Jeffrey M. Brodeur]

This fall and through the end of January, NOAA Fisheries is conducting a voluntary survey of individuals who have harvested river herring (alewives and blueback herring) commercially, recreationally, or for personal use at any point in time over the past 20 years. The goal of this survey is to gather first-hand observations to inform our understanding of alewife and blueback population trends and help our efforts to restore these fish populations along the U.S. east coast. Commercial, recreational, and personal use harvesters have detailed knowledge of the fish in their local areas, such as changes in fish run timing, distribution, and individual fish size and species composition. NOAA wants to document some of this local knowledge in order to better understand river herring and their habitat.

NOAA intends to use the information obtained from this survey to cross-reference scientifically collected data to better understand trends and changes in river herring populations coast-wide. This information can help NOAA identify opportunities for additional research and restoration.

Learn more: http://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/stories/2014/surveykickoffonRiverHerringinaugust.html <http://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/stories/2014/surveykickoffonRiverHerringinaugust.html>

To learn more about the survey or to participate, please contact Dan Kircheis (dan.kircheis at noaa.gov <mailto:dan.kircheis at noaa.gov>) or Julia Beaty (julia.beaty at maine.edu <mailto:julia.beaty at maine.edu>, 207-866-7262 <tel:207-866-7262>).
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