Fish Relocation Celebration in the City
It was quite the event for fishing enthusiasts. Dozens of them came together for the city’s inaugural fish relocation celebration, even braving the rainy weather that provided some cheer for the boats navigating the Hudson River.
On Saturday, people gathered along West Side Highway to carry large papier-mâché representations of sturgeons, flounder, and eels. This preceded a picturesque procession of marine-themed boats, aiming to honor the fish that thrive in the Hudson each year.
“Celebrations like this highlight those unnoticed creatures and natural happenings, akin to the grandeur of the Serengeti, right here in the busiest city in the country,” noted the president of RiverKeeper.
“This is a significant, natural migration event, and we ought to celebrate it. It’s crucial to understand it and to support its continuation by cleaning up the water, removing barriers, and ensuring these fish can flourish,” the president added.
The festivities kicked off with a fish parade in Chelsea, where participants proudly showcased sparkling fish-like crafts.
The procession echoed the migratory path taken by countless sea creatures each year, sending a flotilla of boats across the Hudson to Croton.
The event drew inspiration from the Maori tradition of returning eels from the ocean to local freshwater bodies, as explained by Brown.
Eels took center stage, with one of the decorated ships resembling these slippery creatures. Other vessels featured iconic New York fish, such as striped bass, shad, herring, and Atlantic sturgeons—proudly dubbed the “crown jewels” of the occasion.
“People are fascinated by them because they date back to the time of dinosaurs. They have this prehistoric appearance with distinctive plates on their skin and can grow quite large,” said Brown.
He also mentioned, “These remarkable fish live long lives, often reaching around 60 years. They’re intelligent giants in the river, but they are unfortunately endangered now.”
Riverkeepers are currently engaged in a legal battle with New York, New Jersey, and Delaware, aiming to advocate for better protection of sturgeons, which are threatened by overfishing and pollution.
The organizers emphasized that the fish migration celebration seeks to raise awareness about these underappreciated fish while also celebrating the remarkable natural phenomena occurring right under the gaze of the Big Apple every spring and summer.
