Annapolis, MD – The Commission’s Atlantic Herring Section voted to reduce the amount of herring available to the 2008-2009 fishery in Area 1A, an inshore region off the coasts of Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The total allowable catch (TAC) for Area 1A is now set at 45,000 metric tons. An additional 5,000 metric tons was added to the Area 3 quota, bringing the total allowable catch for that area to 60,000 metric tons. The Section committed to review stock status annually to determine if quota adjustments are necessary.
The specifications are consistent with those set by NOAA’s Northeast Regional Administrator in September 2007. The table below outlines the Commission’s final herring specifications for 2008-2009, as well as those set by NOAA’s Northeast Regional Administrator.
Summary of ASMFC and NMFS Atlantic Herring Specifications for 2008-2009.
| SPECIFICATIONS | ASMFC Specifications | NMFS Specifications |
| ABC | 194,000 | 194,000 |
| U.S. OY | 145,000 | 145,000 |
| TAC Area 1A | 45,000 (5,000 available Jan-May) | 45,000 (5,000 available Jan-May) |
| TAC Area 1B | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| TAC Area 2 | 30,000 | 30,000 |
| TAC Area 3 | 60,000 | 60,000 |
| Research Set-Aside | 3% from each area TAC (2008 and 2009 FY only) | 3% from each area TAC (2008 and 2009 FY only) |
The lowering of the Area 1A TAC was consistent with the recommendations of the Atlantic Herring Technical Committee. While the herring resource is considered fully rebuilt and overfishing is not occurring, scientific models have suggested that total herring biomass may be overestimated and fishing mortality underestimated. Further, there is concern about possible excessive fishing pressure in the inshore Gulf of Maine. Given these findings, the Section opted to limit the Area 1A TAC to 45,000 metric tons – a 5,000 metric ton reduction from last year.
For more information, please contact Christopher Vonderweidt, Fisheries Management Plan Coordinator, at (202)289-6400 or cvonderweidt@asmfc.org.