Environmental and recreational fishing groups are fastened on one target: winter commercial fishing in the ocean off New Jersey that targets mackerel and squid, and unintentionally catches some river herring and shad during the months they spend feeding in the ocean.

Last Tuesday and Wednesday, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council met in Galloway to come up with a plan for reducing the incidental capture of herring and shad. The council, a quasi-government board that sets regulations for fishing in federal waters, will propose options for public comment — ranging from putting more observers on boats to record catches to shutting down fishing areas offshore to prevent river herring losses.

Some fishermen contend they don’t catch enough river herring and shad mixed in with mackerel and squid to make a real difference, and worry the proposed safeguards go too far.

Read the complete story from The Asbury Park Press.