June 10, 2012 – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has announced a series of workshops to gather more information on the status of alewife and blueback herring, collectively known as river herring.
The Natural Resources Defense Council petitioned the agency last August to list river herring as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, prompting government scientists and policy managers to undertake a review of the overall health of these migratory species.
River herring are an integral part of the food chain and an important source of food for other fish populations such as striped bass, cod and flounder. With these workshops NOAA is seeking to determine whether river herring should be listed as endangered. The workshops are open to the public but space is limited. A webinar will also be available for those unable to attend.
A workshop on stock structure is planned for June 22 at NOAA's regional office in Gloucester, followed by an extinction risk analysis workshop on July 10 at the Environmental Protection Agency Offices in Boston.
Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard Times.