The Herring Song
Available Now!
“Wherever a trickle of freshwater meets the sea,
There’s a herring waiting to come up stream.”
River herring, alewives, a beloved fish that swims along the Eastern seaboard, in our streams and rivers, are in trouble. Concerned about their numbers, in 2005, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts initiated a moratorium, a prohibition on the commercial and recreational catching of these fish in our state coastal waters. Other states along the coast followed suit to protect the fish.
Sixteen years later and the fish have shown only a slight improvement. Their numbers remain down. In many places, communities have taken action. They’ve taken down dams and impediments that prevent these fish from coming home, coming inshore to spawn each spring. There is a move afoot, though slow, to rescue these troubled fish.
They are essential to the health of so many parts of the story. Every creature from striped bass to whales hunger for these fish. Probably every fish you love to eat, feeds on these important bait fish.
To hear more about this song, tune into Facebook Live on Sunday nights at 8 p.m. Join in a community of those who love their maritime heritage, through songs and stories. The Herring Song is now available on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and other Internet music streaming services.
You also can purchase the song through Amazon.
