Mashpee River Records Highest Yearly Herring Count
By SAM HOUGHTON
The Mashpee Enterprise
Sep 27, 2018
The Mashpee Conservation Department reported the highest number of herring counted in the Mashpee River since beginning the count in 2011.
This year’s count resulted in a run of 372,000 herring in the river, up about 270,000 from last year.
The second-highest run was 341,500 in 2014. Generally, the Mashpee River, consistently the best run in Mashpee, sees about 200,000 herring a year.
The conservation department is hailing the 2018 run in the river as a banner year.
Conservation Agent Andrew R. McManus said this year’s success was likely because of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries’ assistance in monitoring and maintaining flash boards in the river in order to keep a healthy flow. The department also performed some maintenance of the run during the spawning season as it does annually.
Herring start swimming up the rivers in the spring to spawn in the ponds, and conservation personnel look for the blockage of the river’s flow. Because of the heavy winter storms, some pruning was required. The department is careful not to remove any overhanging vegetation, or disturb the sediment in the river, but did clear or prune branches that had fallen into the river.
While this year’s numbers are encouraging, they are still nowhere near historic levels.
However, the federal government made a decision this week that could be more encouraging news for herring.
The New England Fishery Management Council on Monday, September 24, amended herring fishing practices that will, for one, set catch limits and push large fishing boats farther offshore. Herring trawlers have been allowed to fish within three miles of the coast, but the amendment pushes the year-round buffer to 12 miles.
Environmental advocates hail the ruling as a potential boon, not only for herring but for local environments.
“Herring are a fundamental part of the food web and are critical to fisheries throughout the region,” said Andrew R. Gottlieb, executive director of the Association to Protect Cape Cod, and also a selectman in Mashpee. “Their protection is critical to the health of every important fresh and saltwater fish on Cape Cod.”
“APCC is pleased with the council’s action to protect herring,” the executive director said.
The Conservation Law Foundation, another Massachusetts-based environmental watchdog, also praised the decision.
“The council is taking a bold step in choosing to manage herring differently, and it should be commended,” said Erica Fuller, senior attorney at the foundation. “After years of requests from scientists, recreational fishermen and the public, this amendment recognizes the critical role this species plays in our ocean ecosystem. These rules will make a long-lasting difference for herring, its predators, and the businesses and communities that depend upon a healthy fishery and a healthy ocean.”
Meanwhile, a moratorium in Massachusetts to fish river herring remains in effect, although members of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe are allowed to harvest herring through aboriginal rights.
The state closed the harvest of river herring a little over 10 years ago. The state Division of Marine Fisheries implemented a three-year halt between 2006 and 2008. In 2008, the moratorium was extended another three years because conditions remained poor, and it has yet to be lifted.
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