MIT Sea Grant, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), will be coordinating a volunteer group to conduct river herring monitoring on the Charles River in Spring 2022.

• The Monitoring period will be April 1, 2022 through June 1, 2022
• The monitoring will consist of visual counts that will take place at the Watertown Dam
• MIT Sea Grant and DMF will conduct an information and training session in early March
• Who should volunteer?
  • All ages can participate (children must be accompanied by an adult)
  • Anyone interested in the Charles River and would like to learn more about its ecology and its support of spawning fish populations
  • Anyone who would like to learn about sea-run fisheries management in Massachusetts
  • Anyone who would like to contribute to acquiring important population information in support of river herring management and conservation

The information collected through this effort will help provide a better understanding of the river herring populations that use the Charles River each year, and will contribute to the Massachusetts state-wide river herring monitoring and assessment program.

This is an important program and we cannot do it without your help!