American Shad

American shad is an anadromous species indigenous to the western Atlantic Ocean and the east coast of Canada and the United States. American shad are broadcast spawners and spawn multiple times. As adults, they inhabit the Atlantic Ocean and then migrate into the east coast rivers of Canada and the United States to spawn.
Adult American shad enter to rivers to spawn as early as November in Florida and as late as May or June in northern waters depending on water temperatures. The peak spawning temperatures for American shad is 18.5 degrees Celsius (65.3 degrees Fahrenheit). Spawning normally occurs at sundown and continues until after midnight.
Spawning behavior includes a pairing of the male and female fish, which is followed by the pair swimming close together and releasing their eggs and milt simultaneously. Adult American shad normally descend from these tributaries shortly after spawning.
After hatching, the young American shad will descend from their natal streams in the fall. Juvenile American shad, upon reaching lengths of 20 to 30 mm will begin to form schools for their downstream migration.The American shad is a Federal Trust fish, meaning that the Federal government has some responsibility for its restoring them. The American shad is protected under the Anadromous Fish Conservation Act and restoration efforts are underway from Maine to Virginia. The restoration of American shad in eastern Atlantic rivers is a cooperative effort between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, other Federal agencies, State fish and wildlife Agencies located within the watershed, non-governmental organizations and the fishing industry. Management practices facilitating this restoration process include conservation stocking and habitat restoration, especially as well as the removal of stream and river barriers and the building fish of passage facilities.
Category:Fish
Category:Wildlife
Category:American Animals