 Eelgrass
Down 9 from 34 in 2003
No State of the Bay indicator saw greater declines since our 2003 report than eelgrass where the Bay lost 2,000 acres of eelgrass meadows. This represents one-quarter of all remaining eelgrass and very bad news for the health of Buzzards Bay.
Eelgrass is a rooted underwater plant that grows in meadows on the bay floor in areas of excellent water clarity and sunlight penetration. It serves as vital habitat for a broad range of marine life such as bay scallops. In Buzzards Bay, a major cause of eelgrass loss is reduced water clarity which is driven by increases in nitrogen pollution.
The score of 25 is based on the present extent of eelgrass meadows in the Bay as last surveyed by the MA Department of Environmental Protection against the maximum historical potential eelgrass coverage as estimated by the Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program.
 Bay Scallops
Down 2 from 12 in 2003
Once considered the signature Buzzards Bay shellfish, the highly valuable bay scallop has
been in severe decline for the past 30 years.
Strong bay scallop populations are indicative of clear waters. Bay scallops are very sensitive to environmental conditions, from water quality to water temperature. Waters polluted with nitrogen choke out eelgrass, destroying crucial habitat for scallops. As we eliminate pollution and restore eelgrass, bay scallops may begin to recover to their once abundant levels.
The score of 10 is based on a compilation of the 5-year running average of bay scallop catch data as reported by the MA Division of Marine Fisheries and local shellfish wardens.
 River Herring
Down 4 from 5 in 2003
River herring populations in Buzzards Bay have collapsed. In 2005, the state banned herring catch in all Massachusetts rivers due to serious declines.
Today, only a fraction of the historic populations of herring still make the journey up the Bay into local streams and ponds. Other species once present in Bay rivers such as Shad, Sturgeon and Atlantic Salmon are already locally extinct. Herring are considered a ‘foundation’ fish for the Buzzards Bay ecosystem as the fate of the Bay’s sportfish and waterbirds are closely linked to them.
The cause of the river herring decline continues to evade fisheries managers.
We know that the damming of rivers, degradation of water quality, and
alterations to pond and river flows have all reduced populations. It is
now clear, however, that forces outside the watershed are also impacting
herring.
The Mattapoisett River serves as our benchmark for tracking the state
of herring, although new datasets are developing on the Bournedale,
Agawam, Wankinco, Sippican and Acushnet Rivers. In 1921, 1.85 million
herring were reported in the Mattapoisett. In contrast, between 2003-2006,
an average of only 18,000 fish/yr were counted. Similarly, herring counts in
the Bournedale run fell 89% between 2000-2006.
River Herring
Watershed Communities
- Complete dam removals and fish ladder improvements on all herring rivers.
- Prevent low-flow conditions in herring rivers caused by municipal drinking water withdrawals and cranberry farming.
- Cooperate with state regulations on herring catch and investigations into northeast regional herring declines.
- Expand active monitoring of fish counts in all Buzzards Bay herring rivers.
Everyone
- Observe local herring regulations and support town and state efforts to improve fish passage and restore herring populations.
Eelgrass & Bay Scallops
Watershed Communities
- Reduce nitrogen pollution to restore water quality to levels needed to support healthy eelgrass beds and bay scallop recovery.
- Support physical restoration efforts to jump-start eelgrass and bay scallops in areas of existing good water clarity.
Everyone
- Avoid eelgrass and respect ‘No Wake Zones’ when boating to prevent destruction of sensitive beds and smothering with sediments.
Follow these links for additional resources to help you get involved in
restoring living resources.
Eelgrass, Bay Scallops, River Herring
Eelgrass in Buzzards Bay
Bay Scallop Catch in Buzzards Bay (1970-2005)
Alewives Anonymous
Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Herring Viewing Guide
River Herring Identification
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