September 26, 2014
Herring fishing closed to protect spawning
The Department of Marine Resource has closed several fishing areas along the Maine coast to protect the spawning stock of herring. The closure went into effect on Sept. 24 and extends through Oct. 21.
The Ellsworth American reported that under the closure rules it is illegal to fish or possess herring taken from a “western” spawning area that extends from the Maine-New Hampshire border to a point several miles from Bass Harbor Light. A second protected area known as the “eastern” spawning area extends farther along the coast to the Canadian border, the newspaper reported.
Closures typically begin when fish samples collected by scientists disclose that 15% to 20% of female herring, depending on their length, are pregnant.
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