New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced the 12th annual Great Hudson River Estuary Fish Count will take place at multiple sites along the banks and piers of the Hudson River Estuary on Saturday, Aug. 5.
“The annual fish count event provides a great opportunity for New Yorkers and visitors to get outdoors—or go online—and learn about the many fish species that live and thrive in the Hudson River,” Commissioner Seggos said. “With sites from New York Harbor to Cohoes, there are many places for young and old alike to participate in this year’s event.”
New Yorkers from the Capital Region to New York City are invited to explore the variety of creatures usually hidden below the river’s surface. Fresh upriver, and salty at New York City, the Hudson River Estuary and watershed are home to more than 200 fish species, including several species that migrate into the river from the Atlantic Ocean each spring to spawn. Nine sites are offering in-person opportunities to join the fish count, in addition to DEC’s live stream of the fish count from Lemon Creek on Staten Island, which will be featured on DEC’s Facebook Live at 5 p.m. on Aug. 5.
During the fish count, participating organizations encourage visitors to help collect fish using seine nets, minnow traps, or rods and reels. Seining involves pulling a 30-foot net through the water and checking out the fish, crabs, and other river life caught in its mesh. Participants may watch from shore or jump into waterproof waders available on site and help pull in the net. The fish are released after everyone has a chance to see them up close.
Participating groups share their catch results by posting to the @NYSDEC Twitter (“X”) feed with the hashtag #hudsonriverfishcount. Comparing notes builds an understanding of the diversity of fishes and habitats in the Hudson, the vitality of the estuarine ecosystem in urban and rural settings, and the influence of salinity and tides.
A list of participating public and virtual sites is noted below. For more information, visit the Great Hudson River Estuary Fish Count webpage at https://hrnerr.org/great-hudson-river-fish-count/. While there, watch a clip about seining in the Hudson River on DEC’s YouTube Channel.
New York State’s Fish Count programs are family-friendly and free of charge. The event is sponsored by DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program and Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve in partnership with other environmental organizations.
Sites and Participating Organizations (South to North):
Staten Island
Lemon Creek Park: 4 – 5:30 p.m.
NYSDEC Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve/Hudson River Estuary Program
Brooklyn
Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 4 Beach: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy
Note: Members of the public will not be able to get into the water, but can help with on-shore activities such as fish identification
Westchester
Habirshaw Park, Yonkers: 12 – 2 p.m.
Center for the Urban River at Beczak
Rockland
Piermont Pier, Piermont: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University
Putnam
Little Stony Point, Cold Spring: 9 a.m.
DEC Hudson River Estuary Program
Note: Meet on the beach
Dutchess
Norrie Point Environmental Center, Staatsburg: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
NYSDEC Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve/Hudson River Estuary Program
Ulster
Kingston Point Park, Kingston: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
NYSDEC Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve/Hudson River Estuary Program
Rensselaer
Schodack Island State Park, Schodack Landing: 2 – 4 p.m.
River Haggie Outdoors/Rensselaer Land Trust
Albany
Peebles Island State Park, Cohoes: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
DEC Region 4 Fisheries
Note: Display will be under the Second Street bridge by the river. Live fish on display, no guided active fishing.
