Herring Spawning Regulations for the Western Maine Spawning Area are in Effect Starting September 17, 2009 through October 14, 2009

September 28, 2009: The Maine Department of Marine Resources would like to inform herring fishermen and dealers that herring spawning closure regulations which affect the capture of herring in state and federal waters in the Western Maine Spawning Area will be in effect September 17th through October 14th, 2009.

It shall be unlawful to fish for, take, possess, transfer, or land in any State of Maine port or facility, or to transfer at sea from any Maine registered vessel, any catch of herring harvested from the following described area:

All waters bounded by the following coordinates:
43° 30’ N         Maine coast
43° 30’ N         68° 54.5’ W
43° 48’ N         68° 20’ W
North to Maine coast at 68° 20’ W

Herring taken legally outside the Western Maine Spawning Area may be transported through the area, only if all fishing gear has been stowed.

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, or call the DMR Boothbay Harbor Laboratory (633-9500).

map of herring management areas

[This page was posted September 29, 2009, and replaces a page which incorrectly noted the closure start date as Sept. 30; that page replaced an earlier page which incorrectly noted the end date as Oct. 15.]

DEPT. OF MARINE RESOURCES

Herring Spawning Regulations for the Western Maine Spawning Area are in Effect Starting September 17, 2009 through October 14, 2009