DEC TO HOST 14TH ANNUAL GREAT HUDSON RIVER FISH COUNT ON SATURDAY, AUG. 2, 2025

New Yorkers Encouraged to ‘Get Offline and Get Outside’ at Multiple Hudson River Sites

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton announced that the 14^th annual Great Hudson River Estuary Fish Count will take place at multiple sites along the banks and piers of the Hudson River on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025.

“The Hudson River Estuary is an amazing and critical habitat for many fish and wildlife species, and this annual event provides a great opportunity for New York families and visitors to get outside and see first-hand how unique the river is to the life cycle of so many fish,” Commissioner Lefton said. “With sites from New York Harbor to Cohoes, there are many places for people of all ages and abilities to participate in this year’s fish count.”

Participants from the Capital Region to New York City are invited to explore the variety of creatures usually hidden below the river’s surface. Freshwater upriver and salty at New York City, the Hudson River Estuary and watershed is home to more than 200 fish species, including several species that migrate into the river from the Atlantic Ocean each spring to spawn.

During the annual Fish Count, participating organizations encourage visitors to help collect fish using seine nets, minnow traps, or rods and reels. 

Seining involves pulling a 30-foot net through the water and checking out the fish, crabs, and other river life caught in its mesh. Participants may watch from shore or, at some locations, use available waders to help pull in the net. The fish are released after everyone has a chance to experience them up close.  

Last year, nearly 500 people particpated in the annual count. Catches at all sites are shared and posted online. Comparing notes builds an understanding of the diversity of fishes and habitats in the Hudson, the vitality of the estuarine ecosystem in urban and rural settings, and the influence of salinity and tides.

This annual event complements Governor Kathy Hochul’s “Get Offline, Get Outside” initiative, which promotes physical and mental health by helping New York’s kids and families to put down their phones and computers, take a break from social media, and enjoy recreation and outdoor social gatherings. The event is sponsored by DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Management Program in partnership with several environmental organizations.

Participating public Great Hudson River Fish Count sites:

Albany County:

Peebles Island State Park, Cohoes: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

DEC Region 4 Fisheries

Note: Display will be at the Second Street bridge.

Brooklyn:

Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 4 Beach: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy

Learn more and pre-register here: https://brooklynbridgepark.org/event/seining-hudson-fish-count/

 

Dutchess County:

Norrie Point Environmental Center, Staatsburg: 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

DEC Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve and Hudson River Estuary Program

 

Waryas Park, Poughkeepsie: 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Hudson River Sloop Clearwater

Reserve tickets for the Clearwater Sails here: https://www.clearwater.org/public-sails/

Note: There is a cost to these sails. The 1 p.m. sail tickets are flexible fare. The 5:30 p.m. sail tickets are full price. The sloop is docked at the south end of Waryas Park.

 

Putnam County:

Little Stony Point Beach in Hudson Highlands State Park, Cold Spring: 12 p.m.

DEC Hudson River Estuary Program

Note: Meet on the beach

  

Rockland County:

Piermont Pier, Hudson River Field Station, Piermont: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University

 

Ulster County:

Kingston Point Park Beach, Kingston: 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.

DEC Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve and Hudson River Estuary Program

   

For more information, visit the Great Hudson River Estuary Fish Count webpage. While there, watch a clip about seining in the Hudson River on DEC’s YouTube Channel.