Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

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Alewife And Blueback Herring

Alewife©       Blueback herring©

Emergency Fishery Closure is in effect

Taking of anadromous alewive and blueback herring is PROHIBITED from all Connecticut waters including Long Island Sound.

Alewife and blueback herring (collectively termed "river herring") runs have been declining.  While the reasons for the decline are not fully understood, the DEEP believes it is mostly due to predation by increasingly abundant striped bass.  Healthy river herring populations are needed to provide food for many species.

To restore herring runs, the DEEP is taking a number of actions including removing dams, building fishways, reintroducing pre-spawn adults into streams that had previously supported runs, and eliminating harvest. An immediate recovery is not expected.  However, this closure may reduce the threat of further declines and enable river herring populations to recover more quickly in favorable years. 

A brochure describing the closure is available. 

Landlocked Alewife

Landlocked alewife populations are established in several Connecticut lakes and ponds.  Landlocked alewife may be taken by angling or scoop net only from the following lakes:

  • Amos Lake
  • Ball Pond
  • Beach Pond
  • Candlewood Lake
  • Crystal Lake (Ellington)
  • Highland Lake
  • Mount Tom Pond
  • Quassapaug Lake
  • Quonipaug Lake
  • Rogers Lake
  • Squantz Pond
  • Uncas Lake
  • Waramaug Lake

For further information, please contact Inland Fisheries at 860-424-3474 or Marine Fisheries at 860-434-6043.


Content Last Updated July 2019