Bay 101: American Shad

What role do American shad play in the Bay's ecosystem, and how are experts working to restore them?

What are American shad and why are they important to the Chesapeake Bay? Bruce Vogt from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) explains how the watershed’s shad population has changed over time and what scientists are doing to restore the anadromous fish to our waterways.

Learn more about shad in the Chesapeake Bay Program’s online Field Guide.

• Produced by Steve Droter
• Additional footage by Photography by Michelson, Inc. and Jim Thompson, MD DNR
• Music/Audio: "A Moment of Jazz" by Ancelin
• Photography: Library of Congress, LC-DIG-ggbain-18896, LC-DIG-hec-06375