Alewife Monitoring Survey

Interested involunteering for the 2012 (March, April, May) Alewife Monitoring Survey? To get involved, please contact the Enrico Nardone at the Seatuck Environmental Association, via email or by calling 631-626-1269. Details
Fishes that split their life cycle between marine and freshwater ecosystems are known as diadromous fish and provide many important economic and ecological benefits. Many of these diadromous species are fishing targets, either as food fish, bait fish, or sport fish. Perhaps more importantly, many are key forage fish, feeding larger predators further up the food chain such as striped bass, bluefish, ospreys, and marine mammals. Among the most common of these species is the alewife, Alosa pseudoharengus. Alewives, like all diadromous species, are threatened by impacts to freshwater habitats, including blockage of migratory pathways, habitat degradation, and declining water quality.
	Little is known about the location of alewife spawning runs in the numerous creeks and rivers that flow within the Reserve and collectively provide a vast area of critical spawning, feeding and nursery habitats. Documenting these spawning runs is an important step in understanding diadromous fish habitat use and for guiding future projects to restore diadromous fish populations on Long Island. The South Shore Estuary Reserve and partner organizations are seeking volunteers to watch for alewives during their upcoming spawning season, April 1 to May 31.
Volunteers are needed to observe for 15 minute periods at the following observation locations (.pdf): Beaver Dam Creek, Brookhaven Browns River, Sayville Carlls River, Babylon Carmans River, Shirley Connetquot River, Oakdale: West Brook, Main Stem, and Rattlesnake Brook Mud Creek, Bellport Nissequogue River, Smithtown: Upstream Site and Landing Avenue Site Patchogue River, Patchogue Penataquit Creek, Bay Shore Swan River, Patchogue Massapequa Creek See Monitoring Protocol Here
	Volunteers are provided with data sheets (now available for direct web entry) to record their observations, and are asked to observe for at least 15 minutes at a time to qualify for a valid observation. It is critical that volunteers carefully record the length of time spent observing because the conclusions drawn from the study will depend heavily on the total observation time. Volunteers are also asked to estimate the number of fish observed, but it is more important for the purpose of this study to document where and when runs occur. Survey volunteers are also encouraged to record any other other observations and to take pictures of any fish seen or interesting conditions. If possible, volunteers are asked to record water temperature if they have a thermometer and can safely lower it into the water. This is not mandatory, but it will add to our knowledge of alewife spawning conditions.
Volunteers are encouraged to keep in close contact and report any potential alewife sightings via email or on the web or by calling . Once we have begun collecting data it will be available for viewing on the web If you are interested in participating, please contact Enrico Nardone at Seatuck Environmental Association for more information. Thanks for your interest!