River Herring Conservation Starts with You
Each year, millions of river herring swim up the Cape’s rivers and streams to spawn, playing an essential role in the health of local ecosystems. Your help is needed to help ensure their future here on Cape Cod. Volunteers are the backbone of the local herring counting program, and you can make a direct impact by helping monitor these vital fish populations. By volunteering as a herring counter on Cape Cod, you'll be part of an exciting effort that contributes to the conservation of this species. And, in doing so, you'll help protect the ecosystems and wildlife that rely on herring for food.
Why Are Herring Important?
Herring may be small, but they play a big role. They are a primary food source for a variety of animals, including larger fish, seabirds, and even whales. As herring travel upstream to spawn, they also contribute vital nutrients to river ecosystems, which benefit plants, insects, and other wildlife. Herring are also a key indicator of the health of the overall ecosystem, and understanding their migration patterns can help us better understand and protect our waterways. However, herring populations are well below historical levels due to overfishing, habitat loss, and environmental changes. This makes our monitoring efforts all the more critical.
What Does a Herring Counter Do?
As a volunteer herring counter, your role will be simple yet crucial: you'll count the number of herring migrating up specific rivers and streams on Cape Cod. These counts help conservationists track population trends and inform decisions related to herring protection. Volunteers observe the fish at designated counting sites, record their observations, and report the data to their local count coordinator, or the Association to Preserve Cape Cod. All it takes is 10 minutes per day, a few times a week.
Don’t worry if you have no experience – you’ll receive training and guidance from seasoned professionals before you begin counting. You’ll learn where and when to observe herring, how to identify them, and become familiar with the tools we use to collect data.
Why Volunteer?
Volunteering as a herring counter on Cape Cod is an enriching experience. Here’s why you should consider signing up:
Make a Difference – Your work directly contributes to herring conservation efforts and the protection of Cape Cod's ecosystems.
Learn Something New – Whether you're an experienced naturalist or just love spending time in nature, you'll gain new knowledge about herring and the vital ecosystems they help sustain.
Get Outdoors – Volunteering gives you a chance to enjoy the Cape's beautiful rivers and ponds.
How to Get Involved
It’s easy to become a herring counter! If you’re interested in volunteering, here’s how you can get involved:
Register Online – Visit APCC’s volunteer sign-up form and fill out the registration form. You’ll be asked for some basic contact information, your herring run of interest, and your availability.
Attend a Training – Attend a brief training session, where you'll learn everything you need to know about herring and how to conduct counts. The APCC Herring Hub provides a list of local training opportunities.
Start Counting! – Once trained, you’ll sign-up for a shift at a local herring run and be provided with all the necessary gear and guidance to help you get started. Each volunteer will sign up for shifts that work with their schedule.
Sign Up!
By volunteering as a herring counter, you're helping to ensure that Cape Cod’s rivers and coastal ecosystems remain healthy for years to come. These small fish have a huge impact on the health of our environment, and your observations are a vital part of making sure we have healthy herring populations in the future.
Sign up today and make a meaningful contribution to Cape Cod’s conservation efforts.
For more information and to register as a volunteer, visit APCC’s website.
