DOVER — Children are invited to get a fascinating, up-close look at migratory fish at a free event exploring the fish ladder on the Cochecho River in downtown Dover, sponsored by the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire and the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.

On Saturday, May 15, interested families are asked to gather in front of the Children’s Museum at 6 Washington St. in Dover between 10:45 and 11 a.m. A museum educator will walk the group up to the fish ladder on Central Avenue. Marine Fisheries biologists will be on hand to answer questions, explain their work with the fish ladders and talk about the migratory fish. This is a free event for all ages to get a rare, first-hand look what is happening during migration season in the Cochecho River.

The Fish and Game Department operates seven fish ladders in coastal rivers that each spring help hundreds of thousands of migratory fish ascend over dams into the freshwater above. In order to survive, these migratory fish, such as river herring and American shad, must move between saltwater and freshwater to access spawning, nursery and feeding areas as part of their life cycle. Fish and Game staff monitor the fish ladders daily during the migrations to help fish pass through these fish ladders into the freshwater and to collect biological information to assure the populations are healthy and continuing to flourish. Find out more about Fish and Game’s work at www.fishnh.com.

Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is located at 6 Washington St., Dover. For more information call 742-2002 or visit www.childrens-museum.org.