Tens of thousands of shad fry larvae were released into the Waltham portion of the Charles River on Wednesday as part of an effort to boost the adult population of Shad Fry.
The fish's numbers have dropped in the Charles River in recent years due to overfishing, dam construction and water pollution, according to a Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs.
Specifically, officials hope to boost the population to 30,000 and will monitor their progress.
“We are optimistic for the future of the American shad restoration effort as we see the return of adult fish into the Charles River,” Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Mary Griffin said. “We are grateful for the support of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Charles River Watershed Association, and pleased with the impressive returns of river herring in the Charles River as well.”
The program is modeled after successful efforts in the Chesapeake Bay.
At around 12:40 p.m., fish and wildlife specialists turned on a hose to deposit the larvae into the river. The larvae came from the Merrimack River, according to a Executive Office Energy and Environmental Affairs.
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