A Collaborative Approach to River Herring Restoration in New England.

River herring are recognized as a keystone species, and efforts for restoration of their habitats have been advanced across New England. The Passamaquoddy, a native tribe with close ties to river herring, refers to the species as "the fish that feeds all" because of its importance in the food web. These small diadromous fish are also food sources for humans, and are used as bait for other fisheries. One of the biggest threats to river herring survival is dammed rivers, which prevents river herring from reaching their spawning grounds. A new effort seeks to bring together researchers, state and federal managers, and community members with an invested interest in river herring restoration, with the stated goal of improving communication among the parties. Researchers use new technologies such as eDNA to determine the presence of river herring through water samples; many towns collect data through fish counts and scale sampling; and managers use available data to ensure compliance with management goals. A recent meeting affirmed communication gaps, and revealed that among research organizations, there is a lack of transparency regarding research projects and limited access to data or information. It was also evident that citizen participation is an important aspect of river herring restoration and that integration of local knowledge and research capacity into programs would improve outcomes. Community input into the design of research projects could help address local interests and concerns. Participants from all groups agreed a collaborative approach would improve restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]