Shad on the Chenango: A New Fishing Regulation

On March 4th, 2004, NYS DEC Commissioner Erin M. Crotty announced fishing regulation proposals that would effect angling in several (fresh) waters across NY state, including our Chenango River. The regulation enforces a catch-and-release program, which effects Oxford waters: Chenango River (Chenango Co., Region 7, Proposal ID#: R 7-2), to protect the American shad. All proposals were open to public opinion until April 12th, then the new regulations went into effect October 1st, 2004. Learn how to recognize the American shad and what has been done to recoup their population.

This detailed and very accurate painting of an American Shad (Alosa sapidissima), was done by Ellen Edmundson, circa 1930, sponsored by the DEC. It is part of an archive of fish images, as part of comprehensive biological surveys of biota throughout all New York watersheds. OxfordNY.com wishes to gratefully acknowledge and thank the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, as well as C.E. Kraft of the Dept. of Natural Resources of Cornell University, for granting permission to use this image on this website. All rights reserved by the NYS DEC.

For those not familiar with the American shad, it is a slender silvery colored fish with a blue-green metallic hue on it's back. This fine game fish is a member of the herring family, and it's flesh is considered very tasty. They can grow as big as 30" long and weigh up to 15 pounds (but they're usually no more than 20" and 6 pounds). They're found on both coasts from Newfoundland to Florida and Alaska to California. However, due to overfishing, their numbers have declined, which is why the DEC has stepped in to protect them. The most unique feature of the American shad is that, like salmon, they are anadromous fish. That means that they must migrate upriver to spawn in fresh water, but live their adult life in the sea.

Recently spokeswoman, Maureen Wren of the NYS DEC office in Albany, had this to say to Oxford residents,
" There has been an ongoing (20-plus years) effort to restore American shad to the Susquehanna River system. Most of these restoration efforts have occurred downstream (Maryland and Pennsylvania) however, recent efforts have expanded to New York with the provision of fish passage at large downstream (to NY) hydro-power facilities and with the stocking of American shad fry in 2003 and 2004. It is hoped that American shad will return to NY waters of the Susquehanna River basin (which includes the Chenango River) as their population levels increase and the
fish passage facilities prove effective.

To prepare for this, DEC decided to get ahead of the curve and proposes prohibiting the keeping of American shad that make their way to New York on the chance that a few of these fish do make it. It is easier to
restrict a fishery that has not yet occurred - prior to it becoming reality - than after anglers begin targeting these fish. Also - the catch-and-release-only is consistent with population restoration efforts."

So, if you're angling in the Chenango, make sure your fishing license is current, and remember this new regulation. If you're looking to catch something for dinner, there are plenty of other fish in the...well, River.