New herring fishing rules to reduce waste
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, an interstate regulatory body, said a new rule that requires herring boats to empty their holds before leaving port will reduce waste by encouraging fishermen to harvest the fish in line with market demand, MPBN reported.
According to the ASMFC, the rule for state waters is part of the recently approved Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Herring. The empty fish hold provision is contingent on adoption of the rule in federal waters.
The amendment also allows for the use of a spawning monitoring system to track reproductive maturity in an effort to better align the timing of spawning area closures with the onset of spawning. And it extends the season that fixed-gear fishermen may fish its quota in inshore waters.
According to the Maine Department of Marine Resources, Maine landings of herring in 2014 totaled 104.3 million pounds valued at $1.63 million. Herring is used for food and lobster bait.
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