Anadromous Species Investigations

Abstract

Similar to many east coast states, Delaware closed its river herring fishery in 2008 due to ASMFC Fishery Management Plan mandates. The current status of the Delaware River watershed alosine populations, including those on the White Clay Creek, Christina River, and Brandywine Creek is relatively unknown. Five sampling locations on the Christina River, a tributary of the Delaware River, were sampled biweekly from July through October with a 45.7-m long x 3.0-m deep haul seine consisting of 6.35-mm nylon netting. The four species targeted during this effort included: American Shad (Alosa sapidissima), Hickory Shad (Alosa mediocris), Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), and Blueback Herring (Alosa aestivalis), and all four species were collected during the project. Determining a juvenile index for shad and river herring in the Christina River will support American Shad and river herring restoration efforts, as will increasing access to historically used habitat from the removal of any of the 18 dams in the watershed.