July 12, 2016 — Maine’s emergency herring fishing rules are in effect in an attempt to abate a shortage of the fish, which is the most popular bait for lobster traps.
Fishermen aren’t catching herring on Georges Bank, a critical fishing area far off New England’s coast. Maine wants to prevent fishermen who fish closer to shore from reaching their quota too fast so as to ensure a steady supply of herring throughout summer.
The state’s emergency rules limit herring fishermen’s weekly catch to 600,000 pounds.