Throughout August, NOAA Fisheries is conducting a voluntary, coastwide survey of individuals who have caught alewives and/or blueback herring either commercially, recreationally, or for personal use at some point in their lifetime.
According to NOAA Fisheries project lead Dan Kircheis, the goal 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.
During the 15-minute telephone survey, researchers will ask commercial, recreational and tribal fishermen a series of questions:
– whether local alewife and blueback populations are increasing or decreasing;
– if the timing of the annual run has changed from previous years;
– if fish size is different than it was in the past; and
– the greatest threats to these two species’ long-term survival and how best to address those threats.
For more information about the survey, visit http://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/stories/2014/surveykickoffonRiverHerringinaugust.html.
source: NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Region