American Shad
American shad once ruled the Chesapeake Bay, but decades of damage have left these fish struggling. Restoration efforts haven’t reversed the decline—can this legendary fish be saved?
About American Shad
A fish that has fed families, fueled economies, and shaped traditions along the East Coast for generations.
American shad are more than just fish—they fuel East Coast ecosystems and traditions. Each spring, these migratory members of the herring family return to spawn in rivers like the James, Potomac, and Susquehanna, supporting key species like striped bass and bluefish. Once abundant, shad were vital to fishing communities and Chesapeake culture.
Over centuries, dams, pollution, and overfishing devastated American shad populations. Once plentiful in Chesapeake Bay tributaries, their spawning grounds were blocked and waters degraded. By the 1970s, harvests had plummeted, leading to fishery closures in Maryland in 1980 and Virginia in 1990.
Reviving shad populations will take coordinated action. Efforts to reduce bycatch, remove dams, improve water quality, and boost hatchery programs can help. But recovery depends on public support—protecting habitat, restoring rivers, and ensuring shad can reach their spawning grounds.
Related Programs
CBF's Volunteers as Chesapeake Stewards, or VoiCeS, program engages local volunteers and their communities and fosters a deeper understanding of the Bay watershed and the efforts to restore it.
Do you enjoy working with others to help restore the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams? Whether growing oysters, planting trees, or helping in our offices, there are plenty of ways you can contribute.
CBF's Online Giving Catalog is a great way to give a gift with meaning to friends and family for holidays and other special occasions.
Related Resources
How to Get Involved
From signing up for an event to shopping our CBF Store, there are so many ways you can get involved in the Save the Bay movement.
