WHY ARE HERRING IMPORTANT?

Historically, herring and other anadromous fish were

plentiful in New England and provided an inexpensive

source of protein for the colonists. These fish were

harvested during the spring run and were either

smoked or preserved in brine. In time, other uses for

the fish were developed; fish oils for paint, cosmetics

and medicine, fish waste for livestock feed and

fertilizer, and bait in lobster and crab traps.

Although these historic uses for herring are not as vi-

able today, herring are highly valued and actively

sought for recreational fishing bait. They also play an

important role in the ecology of the marine, estuarine

and freshwater systems that they inhabit. This role is

chiefly as a prey species for important food and game

fish species as well as for a wide variety of coastal

birds such as eagles, ospreys, herons and the currently

endangered roseate tern. Today, many of the herring runs in

Massachusetts support only a fraction of their estimated historical

populations. Reduced herring populations can be caused by

a number of factors including physical obstructions to

migration, over-fishing, poor water quality, or

inadequate spawning habitat.