Beczak Environmental Education Center conducts educational Catch of the Day seining programs between April and October of each year.  We are located in Yonkers, New York which is at approximately mile 18 of the Hudson River (as measured from the mouth at New York harbor).  The river is an estuary at Yonkers and what we catch reflects an estuarine ecosystem. 

Download our catch records.

Click here for the 2009 catch.

Note to Teachers:  We have intentionally left this file in spreadsheet format for interactive use in the classroom. 

Frequently Asked Questions about our Catch:

What is an estuary?

An estuary is the transitional area where water from an ocean is diluted by freshwater from land drainage. The Hudson is an estuary for 153 miles (of its 315 miles) between the Atlantic Ocean and the Federal Dam in Troy, New York. The dynamic nature of the Hudson River Estuary makes it a very diverse and productive habitat.

How many species are in the Hudson River?

The Hudson River is home to over 200 species of fish. There are also thousands of species of invertebrates.  We catch approximately 50 different species in Yonkers.

Why aren’t all the Hudson River species found in Yonkers?

Here in Yonkers, the water is usually brackish (a mixture of freshwater and salty ocean water). In order for organisms to survive in these waters, they must be adapted to the amount of salt in the water. The degree to which different fish species can regulate the amount of salt in their bodies can determine where they will be found in the Hudson River.

Why don’t you catch the same species throughout the year?

In fall, many species migrate to the southern part of the estuary or to the Atlantic Ocean when water temperatures drop. They return to the river to spawn in spring when the water warms. In addition, the salinity, or the amount of salt in the water, in the estuary tends to be lower in the spring and higher mid-summer. Fish must either tolerate these salinity changes or travel to waters more suitable to their tolerance. Summer is the time of year when saltwater species can travel farther into the Hudson River and we are most likely to find unusual species in our nets.

What happens to the animals you catch?

The majority of the animals we catch during the seining program are immediately returned to the river after they are counted, recorded, and observed by our program participants. Occasionally, one is retained for a period of time and displayed in one of our aquariums. The animals in the three smaller aquariums are kept in river water and only fed food from the Hudson in Yonkers (usually fish and shrimp). This is done to minimize the potential for introducing foreign disease and contaminants to the Hudson when the animals are returned to the river.

What information do you record?

Our Catch of the Day program is designed to educate our visitors about the biodiversity and dynamics of the Hudson River. We record the number of each species we catch during each program. We also record water temperature and salinity as often possible. Occasionally we measure air temperature and specimen length. The information we collect provides a good overview of what to expect in the river from month to month.

What does Beczak do with this information?

Catch results from the four most recent months are displayed on panels in our Interpretive Center to be shared with visitors.  Data sheets from previous months are available in the binders. Summary sheets are posted on our website. Once a year the information about the species we collect is submitted to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.  We also periodically submit interesting catches and observations to the Hudson River Almanac.

How can I get involved?

You can contribute to the Catch of the Day exhibit by participating in one of our seining programs. Ask a member of our staff for more information if you would like to join us for one of these programs.  You can also support Beczak’s work with a donation or by volunteering your time.