The Coalition for Buzzards Bay to Host Lecture on River Herring Conservation

February 14, 2005

CONTACT:

Michelle Frey, Communications and Outreach Coordinator

The Coalition for Buzzards Bay

(508) 999-6363, ext. 208

NEW BEDFORD, MA—The Coalition for Buzzards Bay will host a lecture on river herring conservation this Thursday, February 17 at 7pm at the Wareham Public Library.

River herring in Buzzards Bay are declining and exist at a small fraction of their historic populations. Other species once present in Buzzards Bay rivers such as shad, sturgeon and Atlantic salmon have been eliminated. Explore the significance of river herring with Dr. Martha Mather of UMASS Amherst, Department of Natural Resource Conservation. Dr. Mather will take us on a journey through the North Atlantic to discover why river herring stocks are dwindling both here in the Buzzards Bay watershed and throughout the Northeast. David Gould, Natural Resources Director for the Town of Plymouth, Dr. Robert Buchsbaum, Massachusetts Audubon Society, and John Dixon and George Funnell, Wareham Herring Agents – will describe local restoration efforts to restore river herring. Finally, learn how you can get involved with Tony Williams of The Coalition for Buzzards Bay who will describe CBB’s plans to begin a river herring monitoring program in Buzzards Bay.

This is the first of four lectures in this year’s Buzzards Bay Lecture Series. On March 3 at CBB’s office in New Bedford, local producers from wine makers to shellfish aquaculturalists will talk about what they grow here in the SouthCoast and how you can support local agriculture. “Do-It-Yourself-Conservation” will be a hands-on lecture at the Briarwood Center in Pocasset on April 7.  The series will conclude with a morning saltmarsh walk on Brandt Island Cove led by local wetlands legend, Dr. John Teal.

All lectures are open to the public. Admission is $3 per lecture for non-members and free for members of The Coalition for Buzzards Bay.  Refreshments will be served at all presentations. Please call The Coalition for Buzzards Bay, 508-999-6363, for directions and other information or visit www.savebuzzardsbay.org.

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The Coalition for Buzzards Bay is a private, non-profit membership organization dedicated to the protection, restoration, and sustainable use of Buzzards Bay and its watershed. The organization works to improve the health of the Bay ecosystem for all through education, conservation, research and advocacy and is supported by more than 4,700 members.