15. The Hudson River Shad
Shad swimming north to spawn in the spring
The Hudson's food webs support a great number of fishes. Most important to people are the anadromous species - those that are born in fresh water but spend most of their lives in the ocean.
The American shad is a key anadromous species in the Hudson River. Every year around the end of March, this large herring enters the river to spawn. It is the only Hudson River fish still caught and sold for the dinner table; because shad do not eat while in the river, they avoid much of the PCB contamination that has closed other fisheries. Festivals are held to celebrate the shad's return each spring.
