Diadromous Fish Management Update for Coastal Massachusetts.

Chase, Bradford C., Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, New Bedford, MA

Regulated management of diadromous fish populations has occurred in Massachusetts for over 300 years. The earliest statutes were implemented by coastal towns to manage passage and harvest. Large declines in diadromous fish began over 150 years ago in the wake of industrial mill construction, pollution and overharvest. The present status of diadromous fish is shrouded by uncertainty and concern as populations remain at historical lows after 75 years of gains in passage improvements and Clean Water Act reductions in industrial pollution. Despite these significant conservation actions, sea-run fish presently remain vulnerable to the influence of a warming climate, coastal development, eutrophication and fishing and natural mortality. Several initiatives have been advanced in the past year by Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) and partners to address some of these 21 century concerns. A Diadromous Fish GIS datalayer was launched to document fish passage locations and species presence in coastal rivers. The GIS datalayer is integrated with a Diadromous Fish Restoration Priority List as a tool for restoration decisions, environmental permit review and classifying passage suitability under the State’s Wetland Protection Act. A coastwide survey of diadromous fish passage began in 2021 to update the GIS datalayer and Priority List. A stream maintenance policy was finalized in 2022 that connects essential activities in stream channels, such as debris removal and fishway repairs, to the Wetlands Protection Act. This update includes recent activities by DMF’s Fishway Crew, Taunton River shad stocking, and the adoption of river herring and eel monitoring series to ASMFC stock assessments.