To the editor:
[In her] herring article [WWF Feb. 06] Jennifer Litteral wrote: “Herring are anadromous, meaning they spend most of their lives in salt water, but return to freshwater streams to spawn.”
Atlantic herring are not anadromous; they do not spawn in freshwater. Atlantic herring lay egg mats on gravel substrate in ocean waters. River herring and alewives (different species) do spawn in fresh water. Many times I have seen people confuse these species, and their behavior and distribution, which are quite distinct. Jennifer is right in saying that management and science are quite complex!
Mary Beth Tooley
East Coast Pelagic Association
Camden