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DMR Home > Species Info > Herring > Fishery Management > Area 1A Jan. 1 - May 31, 2009

Notice to Atlantic Herring Fishery: Closure of Area 1A Directed Fishery in State and Federal Waters

Section members from the States of Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts discussed 2009 Area 1A days out provisions under ‘Other Business’ at the end of the Atlantic Herring Section meeting on December 15, 2008. As a result, the states agreed to the following measures:

January 1 – May 31:
The Area 1A commercial herring fishery will take 7 days out. Directed commercial fishing is prohibited on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

The States of Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts indicated that these days out specification will likely be reviewed prior to May 31 following the approval of Addendum I.

Landing Restrictions:

Effective January 1st 2009 Until further notice, It is unlawful to land Atlantic herring in the State of Maine taken from ASMFC Management Area 1A.

Exceptions:

  • Any vessel may land herring as an incidental catch caught in ASMFC Management Area 1A in any Maine port, as long as such herring do not comprise more than 2,000 pounds per trip and such herring does not constitute more then 10% of the catch by weight.
  • Fixed gear fisherman (weirs and stop seines) south of a line drawn from Spruce Point, (44 36.2’ and 67 16.8’) Cross Island, Cutler due east magnetic to the international boundary with Canada; MAY NOT close off a body of water on days designated as a "day out" of the fishery. Fixed gear fishermen, may remove and land herring from fixed gear on the days designated as a “day out” of the fishery.
  • Fixed gear (weirs and stop seine) catches in waters north of a line drawn from Spruce Point, (44 36.2’ and 67 16.8’) Cross Island, Cutler, due east magnetic to the international boundary with Canada are exempted from the above restrictions.

For more details, please contact your local Marine Patrol Division Headquarters (Div I 633-9595, Div II 667-3373) or your local marine patrol officer.  For the federal permit holder letter, see http://www.nero.noaa.gov/nero/nr/index.html.