American Shad
American shad (Alosa sapidissima) is a migratory species that has a long history in the Hudson River Estuary. Native and colonial Americans fished for shad for sustenance often smoking the flesh and consuming the roe (i.e. eggs) as a delicacy. American shad continued to be an important recreational and commercial fishery throughout the 20th century. However, the Hudson stock has declined in recent years, and as a result, all commercial and recreational fisheries for shad were closed in 2010. Please visit the American shad entry on the herring webpage to learn more about their ecology.
Current Fishery
Commercial and recreational fishing for American shad is prohibited in the Hudson River and the Marine District of New York. Recreational anglers may take three fish per day in New York portions of the Delaware River.
Management
American shad are managed through the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). Due to significant declines in coastal landings of American shad, ASMFC recommended a closure of all ocean fishing in 2005. A 2007 coast-wide ASMFC stock assessment followed the ocean closure and showed the Hudson River American shad populations were in serious trouble. A complete closure of recreational and commercial fishing in the Hudson River began in 2009. A summary of the findings from this stock assessment (PDF, 778 KB) can be viewed. Staff are revising the Hudson River American Shad Recovery Plan, which will define the population goals required to re-open a Hudson River fishery.
The 2007 ASMFC Stock Assessment found the Delaware River population to be stable. Commercial and recreational fishing in the Delaware River Basin remains open, but requires an ASMFC approved Sustainable Fishing Plan every five years. View the current Delaware River 2012-2016 plan (PDF, 1.55 MB). As members of the Delaware Basin Fish and Wildlife Cooperative (Delaware Coop), NYSDEC staff are writing a new plan for 2017-2021.
Long-term Monitoring Programs
NYSDEC maintains three long-term monitoring programs for American shad:
Hudson River Spawning Stock Survey
- 500 foot seine and electrofishing during April and May (1985 - present)
- Collects lengths, weights, and ages of spawning American shad
Hudson River Young-of-Year Survey
- 100 foot seine June through October (1980 - present)
- Collects mean catch rates and lengths of newly hatched American shad
Non-tidal Delaware River Young-of-Year Survey
- Managed by the Delaware Coop
- 200 foot seine during August through October (1988 - present)
- Collects mean catch rates and lengths of newly hatched American shad
- View a graph of the non-tidal Delaware River young-of-year abundance index
Additional Research
2009-2012 Sonic Tagging Project
- Tagged 174 adult American shad with sonic transmitters
- Collected information on spawning areas, in-river residence times, and migration rates
- View a summary presentation on potential tagging effects and in-river movement of Hudson River American shad (PDF, 2.3 MB)
More about American Shad :
- Non-tidal Delaware River Young-of-Year American Shad Catch Rates - View a graph of young-of-year American shad catch rates in the Delaware River.
