Description
Find out what scientists are learning from Cape Cod’s herring runs with a special presentation from restoration ecologist Mike Palmer, from the Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC). Mike will discuss long-term trends and deliver some preliminary observations from this year’s migration of alewife and blueback herring.
APCC has coordinated river herring monitoring across Cape Cod since 2007, working with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, towns, and local organizations. Trained volunteers count fish passing through ladders and weirs, providing important information on run size and long-term population trends.
“Cape Cod’s herring runs are an important part of the region’s ecology, culture, and history, and long-term monitoring gives us a clearer picture of how these populations and their habitats are changing,” said Mr. Palmer. “Working with local partners and communities, we can use that information to guide restoration, improve fish passage, protect spawning habitat, and help sustain these remarkable migrations for generations to come.”
The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History has a close association with river herring. Its co-founder, John Hay, was fascinated with their lives and recorded his observations in his classic nature book ‘The Run,’ published in 1959. A portion of proceeds from this event will go towards a Hay memorial being erected at the Museum this Fall.
Date & Time
Thu, Sep 10, 2026 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Venue Details
Cape Cod Museum of Natural History
869 Main StreetBrewster, Massachusetts 02631
