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News Release
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
For Release: August 31, 2007
Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402
Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

DEM CONTINUES TO MONITOR LARGE SCHOOL OF MENHADEN IN THE BLACKSTONE RIVER AND ADVISES PUBLIC OF THE POTENTIAL FOR DIE-OFF OF THE FISH DUE TO LUNAR TIDE CYCLE

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management's Marine Fisheries section continues to monitor a large school of menhaden that has been chased into the Blackstone River by predatory fish. About one-two million fish, primarily juvenile menhaden, were observed late yesterday and early this morning in the Blackstone River just below Slater Mill Dam. The current lunar cycle and the resulting unusually low tides which are expected to continue over the next several days raise the potential for a die-off of these fish.

Menhaden are an important contributor to the health of Narragansett Bay and the ecosystem, as well as the economy. They are a bait fish for the lobster fishery, attract striped bass, and are a valuable recreational fishery. Concerns about stock status and commercial harvesting led DEM to implement emergency regulations in July to control the harvest of menhaden stocks.

Adult menhaden are usually present in Narragansett Bay from May through September, while juveniles may remain year round. Earlier this year, DEM's Marine Fisheries section initiated an extensive monitoring program of menhaden stocks in Narragansett Bay, collecting data onboard purse seine vessels, floating fish traps and spotter pilot observations. In August, large numbers of juvenile Atlantic menhaden were collected and spotted in both the juvenile finfish survey of Rhode Island coastal ponds and Narragansett Bay. Huge schools of both juvenile and adult menhaden were observed being chased up into the less saline waters of the Providence and Blackstone Rivers by striped bass, which can tolerate fresh water, and by bluefish.

Biologists from DEM's Division of Fish and Wildlife will continue to monitor this school of menhaden in the Blackstone River and have an established protocol for fish kill response. If observations of a fish die-off occur in any Bay area, DEM's Division of Law Enforcement should be contacted at 222-3070.

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