There are 10 species of freshwater fishes protected under MESA. These range from the Longnose Sucker found in western Massachusetts, to the American Brook Lamprey found in southeastern Massachusetts. Some species are also federally listed, like the Shortnose Sturgeon found in the Connecticut and Merrimack Rivers.
Freshwater fishes are vulnerable to a variety of threats, including sedimentation, changes in water temperature, pollutants, extreme changes in water level, dams, inadequate stream crossings
