NY will study shad populations in Hudson River

A comprehensive plan to determine why shad populations in the Hudson River are plummeting and help rebuild stocks is being announced by Gov. David Paterson. Populations of shad _ once a signature fish along the East Coast _ are so low that the state Department of Environmental Conservation set emergency restrictions on commercial shad fishermen this spring and limited recreational fishing to catch-and-release.

Now the department will study what may be affecting shad. Among other things, researchers will look at whether striped bass are eating fingerlings, study river habitat and place people aboard ocean trawlers to monitor catches.

Fran Dunwell, coordinator of the Hudson River Estuary Program, says the review will include everything from ocean impact to food webs.

Associated Press