MATOS - Mid-Atlantic Acoustic Telemetry Observation System

Project Title: Migration Ecology of River Herring in a Changing Climate

MATOS Project Code: V2LPRATA

Data Type: Deployment

Project Duration: February 2024 - on-going

Project Description: Our study assesses the migration ecology of river herring (alewife and blueback herring) in the Chesapeake Bay using acoustic telemetry and biochemistry. River herring are a valuable ecological, economic, and cultural resource, but populations have declined to less than two percent of their historical abundance. Rebuilding river herring populations has been identified as a high priority goal by private landowners, non-governmental organizations, and state agencies in the Chesapeake Bay region, but populations remain depleted. The overall goal of this project is to conduct the most detailed study to date of river herring spawning migrations from freshwater habitats throughout the Chesapeake Bay to ocean endpoints, with special focus on evaluating impacts of climate change and identifying new opportunities for restoration, while reconnecting people and nature. To ensure the success of future river herring restoration strategies, this information is essential.

Principal Investigator:	T. Reid Nelson (George Mason University)
Email:	tnelso3@gmu.edu

Point of Contact:	T. Reid Nelson
Email:	tnelso3@gmu.edu

Collaborators:

Robert Aguilar (SERC)
Matthew Ogburn (SERC)
Henry Legett (SERC)

Citations:

Legett, H., Nelson, T. R., Ogburn, M. 2024. Migration Ecology of River Herring in a Changing Climate

GMU Migration Ecology of River Herring