Document Type

Report

Department/Program

Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Publication Date

1-21-2022

Abstract

This report describes the results of a continuing study to estimate the relative abundance and assess the status of American shad (Alosa sapidissima) stocks in Virginia by monitoring the spawning runs in the James, York and Rappahannock rivers in spring 2022, evaluating hatchery programs and contributing to coast-wide assessments (ASMFC 2007a; ASMFC 2020). We also report on a fishery-independent monitoring program to determine abundance and stock structure of river herring (A. pseudoharengus, and A. aestivalis) in Virginia by evaluating the adult spawning runs in the Chickahominy River, a major tributary of the James River, and the Rappahannock River. Further, a recently added objective of this study was to complement the monitoring of the adult spawning population of American shad and river herring in the James River system by monitoring juvenile alosines by using nighttime surface trawls in the Chickahominy River and calculate an index of juvenile abundance. Additional objectives were to monitor bycatch of American shad in a permitted gillnet fishery and American shad and river herring in pound net fisheries.

Description

Submitted to Virginia Marine Resources Commission.

Contract Number: F-116-R25

DOI

https://doi.org/10.25773/rqpb-ev40

Keywords

shad, shad fisheries, alewife, blueback herring, Virginia

Funding

US Fish and Wildlife Service, Virginia Marine Resources Commission, Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Contract no. F-116-R25. Project period: 15 November 2021 - 14 November 2022.

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