Restoring North Carolina river herring by stocking pre-spawn adults

Stocking adult river herring in New England is a common way to enhance or restore native spawning runs in coastal streams and rivers. North Carolina river herring stocks have been depleted for over 25 years, and a harvest moratorium is in place. We tested the feasibility of stocking adult river herring during the spawning run into an Albemarle Sound tributary in the hope that this practice could be used for restoration throughout coastal North Carolina. Pound net mortality associated with river herring capture was 8.7%, and transfer mortality was 17.4% for a total trap and transport mortality of 26.2%. Capture and transfer mortality increased as seasonal temperatures increased. Results of the 24-hour mortality study were difficult to interpret due to fish escapement and predation within the cage, but survival after trap, transport, and 24 hours in cages was about 28%. Survival was best when capture and stocking was conducted at water temperatures below 12^o C, and at densities of one fish per one gallon of water.  Subsequent sampling in this watershed throughout the summer produced no evidence of spawning or juvenile recruitment.