October 24, 2014 — The following was released by the National Marine Fisheries Service:
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) projected the Atlantic herring fishery has exceeded 92% of the total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to Management Area 1A (inshore Gulf of Maine) for Trimester 3 (October-December). The directed fishery will close effective 0001 hours October 26, 2014 and remain closed through May 31, 2015. During the closure, vessels issued federal permits for Atlantic herring may not retain or land more than 2,000 pounds of Atlantic herring from Area 1A per trip or calendar day. No vessel may offload and/or sell more than 2,000 pounds of herring from Area 1A unless that vessel entered port before 0001 hours on October 26, 2014.
During the directed fishery closure, vessels may transit through Area 1A with more than 2,000 pounds of herring on board, provided the vessel did not catch those herring in Area 1A and all fishing gear is properly stowed, making it unavailable for immediate use.
States are reminded that in accordance with Amendment 2 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Herring, once a closure has been announced by the Regional Administrator of NMFS Greater Atlantic Fisheries Regional Office, states must prohibit the landing of herring from a closed area and prohibit directed fishing for Atlantic herring in state waters of a closed area. During a closure, vessels participating in other fisheries may retain and land an incidental catch of herring from a closed area that does not exceed 2,000 pounds per trip.
If you have any questions please contact Melissa Yuen at myuen@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740.