Fish and Wildlife

Bald Eagle - 100%
(0% 2-Year Change)

Today the bald eagle is a common sight along many parts of the James River along with osprey, blue heron, and other river birds. With the ban of the pesticide DDT and passage of the Endangered Species Act in the 1970’s, the bald eagle population has flourished. The number of breeding pairs rose to 144 to stay at 100% of the JRA benchmark set at the number present in 2007 when the bald eagle was removed from the Threatened and Endangered Species List. The bald eagle can continue to flourish with proper protection of critical forest habitat along the river and a healthy river to provide food. With good care, our nation’s symbol should continue to be a welcome site on America’s Founding River for years to come.

Rockfish/Striped Bass - 82%
(-18% 2-Year Change)

Striped bass are now showing troubling signs after being at very healthy numbers over the past 15 years since a fishing moratorium brought their populations back from the brink of collapse. For the past two years, a long-term monitoring study showed that the striped bass spawning stock in the James River decreased significantly. Additionally, a high proportion of striped bass in the region have shown signs of bacterial infections that can lead to decreased growth rates or death. “Stripers” or “rockfish” are a very important fish species for both recreational and commercial fishing, but without a healthy, balanced ecosystem the population’s health may continue to diminish. The three-year average of the James River spawning stock is now at 82% of JRA’s
benchmark.

Oysters - 8%
(+3% 2-Year Change)

Despite slight increases in the oyster population in the James River, oysters continue to struggle at near historic lows. Continued efforts with oyster restoration have been thwarted by high incidents of oyster diseases and persistent problems with water quality. The lack of oysters and other filter feeders has a substantial impact on water quality, yet the filter feeders struggle to survive themselves with poor water quality. Oysters stand at only 8% of the James River’s share of the goal set forth in the Chesapeake Bay 2000 agreement for a ten-fold increase from 1994 levels.

Smallmouth Bass - 100%
(0% 2-Year Change)

Although smallmouth bass continue to be abundant in the James River and its tributaries, the impact of springtime fish kills in the upper James River region is of great concern. The cause is yet to be determined, but research indicates that a combination of factors are compromising the health of the fish. The numbers of smallmouth over the past three years still exceed JRA’s benchmark, but the numbers have declined over the past two years. Smallmouth are a prized recreational fish in the upper and middle sections of the James River.

American Shad - 6%
(-4% 2-Year Change)

American Shad populations are down in nearly every river up and down the Atlantic Coast. Despite stocking efforts and opening historic spawning habitat in the James River, populations have declined over the past five years. Currently, shad are at a near all-time low with only 6% of the numbers seen just 25 years ago. The cause of the recent decline in the James and other rivers is not yet known. Greater efforts on research and healthy waters must be made to bring back what was once one of the most abundant and important species of fish in the river.

Brook Trout - 45%
(0%-2 Year Change)

Because of its sensitivity to changes in water quality and competition with other species, the native brook trout populations have been reduced to a fraction of the range where they were once found. Currently they are healthy in only 9 stream systems out of the 100 where they historically thrived. They are now completely gone from 30 of the stream systems. To achieve the JRA benchmark and the goals set by the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture, viable populations must be restored to 20 stream systems. This will require protecting forested watersheds, replanting streamside forests, and reducing polluted runoff from agriculture and development.

Brook Trout Population