April 5, 2013 — The following was released by the ASMFC:
The Atlantic herring sub-annual catch limit (sub-ACL) allocated to Management Area 2 was projected to be harvested. Therefore, pursuant to Section 5.1.1 of Amendment 2 and Section 2.1.3.1 of Addendum II to Amendment 2 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Sea Herring, the directed fishery for Atlantic Herring in Management Area 2 is closed effective 0001 hours local time, April 7, 2013. The directed fishery in this areas will remain closed until 0001 hours, January 1, 2014.
Vessels participating in other fisheries may possess no more than 2,000 pounds of Atlantic herring per trip in a closed area as specified by Section 4.3.1 of Amendment 2. Section 4.3.1 also stipulates that all vessels traveling through a closed area must have all seine and mid-water trawl gear stowed.
Please contact Toni Kerns, ISFMP Director at 703-842-0740; tkerns@asmfc.org for more information.