Encouraging stakeholder participation in restoration research: The adopt-a-herring program

Successful restoration often depends on broad stakeholder involvement and a scientifically literate public. Anadromous fish declines along the Atlantic coast have prompted diverse restoration and conservation efforts from state and federal agencies and concerned non-governmental organizations. In the northeastern United States, river herring (Alosa spp.) have historically been an important component of coastal rivers and are seen as one indicator of a healthy system. We used radiotelemetry in order to understand river herring behavior and to assess restoration success in the Ipswich River, MA. To encourage participation and interest in fisheries and watershed restoration efforts, we created the Adopt-A-Herring program. Participating organizations, such as fishermen, rod-and-gun clubs, and outdoors clubs, adopted and named individual tagged river herring, followed their fish through our project web site, and attended end-of-season presentations of the data. These activities cultivated a personal interest in river herring, stimulated discussions regarding restoration, and initiated critical thinking about human activities that advance or impede sustainability. The Adopt-A-Herring project was a successful participatory based outreach program that effectively drew attention to the restoration of anadromous fish and provided an opportunity to become involved in scientific research.