BY BRONX TIMES
In an annual tradition, New Yorkers
participated in the “running of
the fi sh,” where 250 herring were released
into the Bronx River on Tuesday
in part of a fi sh revitalization effort.
The groups involved were: NYC
Parks, the Bronx River Alliance, the
Bronx Zoo/Wildlife Conservation Society
and the New York State Department
of Environmental Conservation
(NYSDEC). Now in its fi fth year, the
“running of the fi sh” hopes to continue
combatting the steady decline of
alewife populations in the northeast.
“Despite the ongoing pandemic, we
are thrilled to have been able to take
part in this year’s ‘running of the
fi sh,’ an important part of our efforts
to increase biodiversity and restore
ecological value to the Bronx River,”
said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell
Silver.
The restocking is part of an ongoing
effort to re-establish a population of
these native fi sh in one of the nation’s
most urbanized waterways. This year,
NYSDEC trapped and transported the
fi sh from the Peconic River in Long Island
to the Bronx River.
Scientists from WCS and the City
University of New York (CUNY) will
also be using new tools to monitor alewife
in the river. Through measurement
of environmental DNA (eDNA,
molecules left behind in the water by
fi sh) in water samples collected from
the river, they will be able to track
the presence of alewives through the
spawning season. An underwater remote
operated vehicle (ROV) is also
used to corroborate the eDNA fi ndings
with visual surveys and environmental
conditions.
“After missing last year’s fi sh release
due to travel restrictions caused
by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are so
excited to work with our partners to
introduce 250 river herring into the
Bronx River,” said Maggie Greenfi
eld, Bronx River Alliance executive
director. “The return of the Alewife
Herring to the Bronx River represents
such an important milestone for
the restoration of the Bronx River.”
Historically, the river herring
“run,” or migration upstream to
spawn each April, is a symbol that
spring has arrived. Pollution, overfi
shing, mismanagement of fi sheries
and impediments to migration
have all played a role in reducing the
population of alewife. These native
fi sh are an important food source for
larger fi sh, birds and other wildlife
in our ocean, estuaries and rivers.
Restoring passage to the Bronx River
will provide additional habitat and
increase local biodiversity.
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BRONX TIMES REPORTER, A 2 PR. 16-22, 2021 BTR
Merry Camhi and Jake LaBelle help release 250 herring into the Bronx River as part of fi sh
revitalization effort Photos courtesy of Julie-Larsen-Maher
NYC Parks, Bronx Zoo, NYSDEC &
Partners add Alewife fi sh to Bronx River
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