December 15, 2025 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Herring Management Board members from Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts met December 15 via webinar to set effort control measures for the 2025 Area 1A fishery for Season 2 (October 1 – December 31) following an increase in available quota for Area 1A. The 2025 Area 1A sub-annual catch limit (sub-ACL) is now 2,317 metric tons due to implementation of the new 2025-2027 specifications package.
After accounting for the fixed gear set-aside, 2025 landings so far from Area 1A, and the 8% buffer (Area 1A closes at 92% of the sub-ACL), there are an estimated 289 metric tons available for harvest.
Currently, the Area 1A fishery is at zero landing days. The Area 1A days out measures moving forward for Season 2 are as follows:
- Landing days will continue to be set at zero (0) through Monday, December 22.
- The fishery will move to one (1) landing day starting at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, December 23.
- The fishery will move to zero (0) landing days when 92% of the Area 1A sub-ACL has been caught or at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, December 24, whichever comes first. The fishery will remain at zero (0) landing days through the end of 2025.
While landing days are set at zero (0), harvesters are prohibited from landing more than 2,000 pounds of Atlantic herring per trip from Area 1A. Fishing for and possession of Atlantic herring may begin prior to landing days during Season 2.
Please contact Emilie Franke, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at efranke@asmfc.org for more information.
Atlantic Herring Days Out Meeting Motions (December 15, 2025)
Main Motion
Move to set the following schedule for Area 1A Season 2:
- Set zero landing days through Sunday, December 21
- Starting 12:01AM on Monday, December 22, move to one landing day
- Move to zero landing days when 92% of the Area 1A sub-ACL has been caught or at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, December 23, whichever comes first, through the end of 2025.
Motion made by Ms. Ware and seconded by Ms. Griffin. Motion amended.
Motion to Amend
Move to amend to set the landing day to Tuesday, December 23.
Motion made by Mr. Abbott and seconded by Ms. Ware. Motion passes by unanimous consent.
Main Motion as Amended
Move to set the following schedule for Area 1A Season 2:
- Set zero landing days through Monday, December 22
- Starting 12:01AM on Tuesday, December 23, move to one landing day
- Move to zero landing days when 92% of the Area 1A sub-ACL has been caught or at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, December 24, whichever comes first, through the end of 2025.
Motion passes by unanimous consent.
The announcement can also be found at https://asmfc.org/news/press-releases/update-on-2025-atlantic-herring-area-1a-fishery-season-2-days-out-measures-december-2025/