September 25, 2015 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Herring Section members from Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, with input from industry, set a “days out” effort control measure to allow three (3) consecutive landing days per week in Area 1A during Trimester 3 (October 1 through December 31). Effective 12:01 AM, Monday, October 5, the Trimester 3 Atlantic herring fishery will move from zero landing days to three landings days. Vessels may fish and land Atlantic herring from 12:01 AM each Monday through midnight on Wednesday throughout Trimester 3. Thursday through Sunday are “no landing” days. Please note a state may implement different start and finish times for the three consecutive landing days.
Landings will be monitored closely and the directed fishery will be closed when landings reach 6,971 metric tons (mt). This value represents 92% of the Area 1A quota and accounts for Trimester 2 overages, and research and fixed gear set-asides.
In addition, the spawning area in Massachusetts-New Hampshire is closed until October 18. Vessels participating in other fisheries may possess no more than 2,000 pounds of Atlantic herring per trip in a spawning closure area.
Please contact Ashton Harp at aharp@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740 for more information.