The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Herring Management Board members from Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts met September 21 via webinar to set effort control measures for the 2026 Area 1A fishery for Season 2 (October 1 – December 31). There are approximately 2,075 metric tons (MT) available for harvest during Season 2, which accounts for the fixed gear set-aside, the current Area 1A catch estimate and underage from Season 1, and the fact that Area 1A closes at 92% of the sub-annual catch limit (sub-ACL). The available quota for Season 2 may decrease if there is additional Season 1 catch before October 1.
Based on initial catch estimates from the Canadian New Brunswick weir fishery that exceed the threshold for a 1,000 MT-reallocation, NOAA Fisheries indicated that it does not expect to reallocate 1,000 MT from management uncertainty to the Area 1A sub-ACL this year. NOAA Fisheries will make an official determination after October 1.
The days out measures for Season 2 are as follows:
- Landing days will be set at zero (0) from October 1 through October 11.
- The fishery will move to two (2) landing days from 12:01 a.m. on Monday, October 12 to 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, October 13.
- The fishery will move to zero (0) landing days from October 14 through November 8.
- The fishery will move to four (4) consecutive landing days per week starting at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, November 9 until 92% of the Area 1A sub-ACL is caught. Landing days are Mondays from 12:01 a.m. through Thursdays at 11:59 p.m., weekly.
The fishery will only move to four (4) landing days on November 9 at 12:01 a.m. if there is remaining Season 2 quota at that time. Quota availability will depend on how much is landed from October 12-13.
While landing days are set at zero (0), harvesters are prohibited from landing more than 2,000 pounds of Atlantic herring per trip from Area 1A during Season 2. Fishing for and possession of Atlantic herring may begin prior to landing days during Season 2 as long as fishing is not occurring in spawning areas during a spawning closure.
Please contact Emilie Franke, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, for more information.
Days Out Meeting Motions (September 21, 2026)
Move to set the following schedule for Area 1A landing days in Season 2:
- Landing days will be set at zero (0) from October 1 through October 11.
- The fishery will move to two (2) landing days from 12:01 a.m. on Monday, October 12 to 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, October 13.
- The fishery will move to zero (0) landing days from October 14 through November 8.
- The fishery will move to four (4) consecutive landing days per week starting at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, November 9, until 92% of the Area 1A sub-ACL is caught. Landing days are Mondays from 12:01 a.m. through Thursdays at 11:59 p.m., weekly.
Motion made by Ms. Ware and seconded by Ms. Zobel. Motion passes by consensus.