The Albemarle Pamlico National Estuary Program is working together with the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental Defense and others to identify, prioritize and remove impediments to suitable spawning and nursery habitats in the Albemarle Sound watershed. These partners are also identifying potential habitat restoration sites. This group is working on immediate and long-term actions that will lead to the restoration of blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis) and alewife (Alosa psuedoharengus), collectively known as “river herring”, in a manner that is scientifically, economically and socially sound. 
The collapse of river herring populations is a result of many factors including, loss of access to spawning and nursery habitats, habitat destruction, fishery pressures and declining water quality.
Several tools currently exist to address the issues related to North Carolina’s river herring restoration. These include the River Herring Fishery Management Plan (2007) to achieve sustainable fishing; Basinwide Management Plans to protect water quality; the Coastal Habitat Protection Plan to protect and restore necessary fish habitats; the Wildlife Action Plan to protect habitats of species of special concern; and the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan to protect and restore the Albemarle-Pamlico estuarine system. All must be implemented in a coordinated approach to ensure success.
Rebuilding spawning stock size, protecting critical river herring spawning and nursery area habitats and maintaining good water quality in North Carolina’s coastal streams will be required to return river herring to its former abundance. However, the most important remaining challenge relates to the protection and restoration of spawning and nursery habitats.
Continued involvement by all interested parties is essential to the successful restoration of river herring in North Carolina. Commercial and recreational fishers, local governments and citizens will need to work together to identify, protect and restore spawning and nursery habitats, and water quality.
For more information contact:
Jimmy Johnson, APNEP Field Representative
N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources
943 Washington Square Mall
Washington, N.C. 27889
Phone: (252) 948-3952
Fax: (252) 975-3716