- River herring runs in Barnstable
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River herring species in Massachusetts
Alewife
Blueback Herring
Rules and Regulations
The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries has renewed the state waters river herring moratorium. Until further notice the harvest, possession or sale of river herring is prohibited in the Commonwealth. Therefore the town of Barnstable River Herring regulations are as follows:
§ 407-10. Herring and alewife rules and regulations.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to harvest, possess or sell river herring in the Town of Barnstable or in waters under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
B. Conservation. Throwing objects into the water and/or malicious destruction of the herring and alewives is prohibited.
C. Unauthorized alteration of herring runs. No person shall tamper with, adjust or destroy any structure provided for the passage of herring and alewives unless authorized by the Supervisor of Natural Resources.
Natural Resources Program Responsibilities
- Manage water flow control boards to allow enough water in the herring runs for fish to migrate up and down stream. Fish passage structures do not control the overall water level in our ponds; water height is a function of long term rainfall, groundwater supply, and spring water discharge.
- Maintain all river herring runs in town to make sure the adult fish can migrate upstream into spawning ponds in spring and that the fry can make it down stream into the ocean in autumn. This involves clearing thick vegetation and downed trees that collect debris and block water flow.
- Monitor river herring migration during the spring and fall to make sure no fish are illegally harvested or their passage is obstructed.
- Coordinate volunteer river herring run clean up efforts.
- Manage river herring count programs and coordinate with local conservation groups that also have counting programs.
Useful Information and Links
- Identifying river herring and sea herring species
- River Herring Network (Southeast Massachusetts)
- Massachusetts Guide to viewing river herring
- Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC)
- Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Diadromous Fish
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries ( NOAA) River Herring
- Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) River Herring