Commercial Atlantic Sea Herring Fishery in Management Area 1A to Close
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has projected that the Management Area 1A Atlantic herring fishery will have harvested 92% of its Season I (June 1 – September 30) quota allocation by August 3, 2021 (see Notice). Accordingly, effective at 0001 hours on Tuesday, August 3, 2021, the directed Atlantic sea herring fishery in Management Area 1A will close through September 30, 2021 (Closure Notice). Unless explicitly authorized, the possession, retention, landing, and sale of Atlantic sea herring taken from Area 1A is prohibited during this closed period.
This quota closure does not prohibit vessels from retaining sea herring in accordance with the incidental catch and small-scale fishery allowance. Under this allowance, vessels may retain and land up to 2,000 pounds of Atlantic sea herring during any trip or calendar day, whichever period is longer. Accordingly, dealers acting as primary buyers of Atlantic sea herring may purchase or receive up to 2,000 pounds of Atlantic sea herring harvested from Management Area 1A by vessels fishing under this allowance. Lastly, vessels may transit Management Area 1A in possession of Atlantic sea herring, provided the herring were lawfully caught outside of the area and all gear is stowed.
For more information about the management of marine fisheries in Massachusetts, please visit our website at www.mass.gov/marinefisheries or e-mail us at [email protected].
