The Herring are Back!
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- Navigate this page:
- WHERE DO HERRING COME FROM
- HOW LONG DO THEY RUN
- WHAT HAPPENS TO THE EGGS
- WHAT IS A FISH LADDER
- POPULATION DECLINE!
- HELPING OTHERS!
| The Herring are Back!
A wonderous feat of nature occurs every spring in our town. Millions of river herring leave the ocean and run up the Taunton River. Our herring branch into the Nemasket River through Middleborough and Lakeville, to the pristine spawning grounds of the Assawompsett Pond complex. The Pilgrims and early settlers of “Middleberry” were introduced to river herring by the Wampanoags, who caught the fish every year near what is now Oliver Mill Park, East Main Street “The wading place” and in North Middleborough. The settlers learned to use herring as food and fertilizer for crops. Over the years, Middleborough jealously guarded the herring, allowing certain amouts to be caught by each resident. Mill dams were required to be opened to allow the herring free passage upstream. Commercial herring contracts were bid for many years, with the last commercial catch in the early 1960s. Today, seven volunteer wardens and several volunteer observers protect the herring in Middleborough and Lakeville. The legacy of local protection continues. Middleborough and Lakeville together are one of only two municipalities in Massachusetts who control their own herring runs. WHERE DO HERRING COME FROM? The Taunton River/Nemasket River is the largest herring run in New England and one of the largets on the east coast. River herring, consisting of both Alewives and Blueback Herring live in the Atlantic Ocean. In the spring, they enter Naragansett Bay, run upstream into the Nemasket River and spawn in the Assawompsett Pond complex. The adult fish return to the ocean and will make the run several years in a row. Our herring swim 23 miles from the ocean to the ponds. HOW LONG DO THEY RUN? The herring run usually lasts from mid March to late May every year, with the peak usually being the first two or three weeks in April. This year, the herring started in February due to the very warm winter and warm water temperatures. They are already thick in the river. Herring make their first run when they are three or four years old. They return to lay eggs for three to five years (unless something eats them.) WHAT HAPPENS TO THE EGGS? The eggs hatch in the spring. The baby herring, or fry, swim down the river to the ocean in the summer and fall. Only one egg in every 100 eggs lives to return as an adult herring. WHY? River herring are the bottom of the food chain. They are eaten by bigger fish, birds, and animals. They are food for fish we eat. That’s why it is important to ensure a healthy herring population. WHAT IS A FISH LADDER? Dams are too tall for herring to swim over. Fish ladders were built to allow herring to migrate around dams in gradual steps. Middleborough was always good about helping herring. All three fish ladders along our run are in Middleborough. One at Oliver Mill Park, one at Wareham Street and one at the Assawompsett Dam. Visitors arewelcome to view the herring at Oliver Mill and the Thomas Memorial Park on Wareham Street. Herring are protected inside the ladders, so please stay out of the pens. POPULATION DECLINE! Starting in 2004, there was a major crash in herring populations along the entire east coast. There are many theories, including offshore fishing, disruption of migratory cycles due to climate spikes, and an increase in predators. Catching was banned in 2006. Our run has recovered better than most, but is still below the highest level. Our herring currently average five years of age, a bit older than other area runs. We have a mix of fifty-fifty male and female (although we actually like to see more males). HELPING OTHERS! Over the years, Middleborough and Lakeville assisted in repopulating other herring runs. We have supplied herring, in multi-year stocking programs, to Bridgewater for the Town River; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the Concord River; for the Ipswich River; The Massachusetts Marine Fisheries for the Three Mile and Ten Mile Rivers; and the Rhode Island DEM for two of their rivers. Directory: Collateral Collateral -> Ngos and Electronic Value Transfer Providers: Tips and Recommendations for Picking the Right Partner Part One Collateral -> Note: when calling or corresponding with us, always quote our service reference file (srf) number Download 7.14 Kb. Share with your friends:
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