Monitoring Data

Data collected every year is used to determine the size of the spawning runs in Virginia. A catch index is an assessment of the population size measured by catch and effort data. A seasonal catch index is calculated by estimating the area under the curve of daily catch versus day of the year. Post-spawning females captured are not calculated in the catch rates since the historic shad fishery was a roe fishery.

Using historical data, restoration targets were set for the York, James, and Rappahannock rivers. Fishing data from 1980-1993 were used to produce the average catch index for the James and Rappahannock rivers. Data from the 1950's was used for the York River catch index. These historic indices are the current restoration targets. Each river has a specific catch index that must be met before the fishing ban will be lifted.

Monitoring data for the James, York, and Rappahannock rivers are available. Historic and current indices are graphed along with restoration targets for each river.