Learn all about the herring and its annual springtime ritual with Barbara Brennessel, author of “The Alewives’ Tale: The Life History and Ecology of River Herring in the Northeast,” in Provincetown on March 30.

Brennessel’s program, “The Life History and Ecology of the River Herring in the Northeast” is presented by the The Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, and will be held at Napi’s Restaurant, 7 Freeman St., at 7 p.m.

Click here for a “Shore Lore” column that I wrote about Brennessel for the Cape Codder last spring.

River herring have been economically important since colonial times as food, fertilizer, and bait. In recent years they have attracted much attention from environmentalists, especially as attempts are being made to restore the rivers, streams, ponds, lakes, and estuaries that are crucial for their reproduction and survival.

Brennessel will provide an overview of the biology of the fish—from fertilized eggs to large schools of adults that migrate in the Atlantic Ocean—while describing the habitats at different stages of their life history. She explores the causes of the dramatic decline of river herring since the mid-20th century and the various efforts to restore these iconic fish to the historic populations that treated many onlookers to spectacular inland migrations each spring.

This free presentation is part of the Center for Coastal Studies’ Winter Lecture Series, which is supported by Napi’s Restaurant.

Participants are encouraged to arrive at 5 p.m. and enjoy Napi’s special early bird dinner.

For details, call 508-487-3622, x-103, or email ccs@coastalstudies.org.

#BarbaraBrennessel #herring #Alewife #TheAlewivesTale #NapisRestaurant #Provincetown #CenterforCoastalStudies #DonWIlding #Shore #ShoreLore