DEC Contact: Stephanie Mossey (845) 256-3154 March 22, 2023
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DEC RELEASES FINAL RECOVERY PLAN FOR HUDSON RIVER AMERICAN SHADPlan Will Help Ensure Sustainable Future for Historically Significant Hudson River Species |
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The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today released the final Recovery Plan for Hudson River American Shad, an economically and ecologically important migratory fish species that once supported a robust fishery in the Hudson River. Decades of intense fishing pressure coupled with years of low reproduction and non-fishing-related mortality events have further impacted the stock's resilience and exacerbated declines. The final recovery plan details a brief history of Hudson River American shad and actions taken by DEC and others to rebuild the stock since 2010. It outlines recovery goals and benchmarks based on decades of annual monitoring data and the most recent American shad stock assessment. With the aim of long-term stock resilience, the plan establishes management needs and the criteria required to re-open fisheries as we continue to gather data and identify challenges. "Today marks a significant milestone in DEC’s sustained efforts to restore the Hudson River’s American shad population," said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. "This final recovery plan provides a roadmap for the long-term recovery of this iconic species and outlines steps we can take to mitigate the numerous challenges facing Hudson River shad. By implementing the strategies outlined in this plan, DEC will work to ensure a sustainable future for American shad.” After the release of the draft recovery plan in March 2022, DEC received numerous public comments to address in the final plan. In addition to a responsiveness summary in the appendix, the final recovery plan includes:
Since 2010, DEC, federal, and local partners have taken measures to address the Hudson River American shad stock including:
Additional information about American shad can be found on the DEC website. |
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