Atlantic herring, Clupea harengus, are an important forage species for many fish, marine mammal and seabirds; they are also a highly valued commercial fishery for both domestic and foreign fishing fleets. Nationally, the herring fishery supplies bait for commercial lobster, blue crab, and tuna fisheries in New England, and provides product as a canned fish (i.e., sardines). Overseas, frozen and salted herring are a valued commodity. Today, herring are regulated through complementary management processes between the Commission and the New England Fishery Management Council. Both organizations have recently developed new amendments to address a number of issues, including the increasing fishing effort on the inshore component (Gulf of Maine) of the Atlantic herring stock. The Atlantic herring stock complex appears to have recovered to high levels and stabilized. The 2006 Transboundary Resource Assessment Committee found that herring appear to have redistributed throughout much of its historical range with stocks showing expanded age structure in recent years. The Atlantic herring stock complex is not overfished and overfishing is not occurring. <species profile> <stock status> <habitat fact sheet>

NEW: 2009 Atlantic Herring Days Out Specifications for Area 1A

Contacts

• Christopher M. Vonderweidt, FMP Coordinator
• Section
  • Chair, Terry Stockwell
• Technical Committee
  • Chair, Matt Cieri
• Advisory Panel
  • Chair, David Ellenton

Management Plans & Actions

• Amendment 2 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Herring (March 2006)
  • Technical Addendum 1 (August 2006)
  • NEW: Addendum I (March 2009)
• Amendment 1 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Sea Herring (February 1999)
  • Addendum I (July 2000)
  • Addendum II (February 2002)
  • Technical Addendum 1a (October 2001)

* Previous plans and addenda can be found here or by contacting the Commission at (202)289-6400.

Upcoming Meetings

7/9 (10 AM):
ASMFC Atlantic Herring Days Out Meeting, New Hampshire Fish & Game Department Marine Fisheries Division Building, 225 Main St. Durham New Hampshire.

Annual Reports

• FMP Reviews 2007 2006 2005 2003 2002 2001 2000
• Stock Assessment Reports 2006 2003
• State-by-State Regulations

Pending Actions for Public Input

Press Releases

ASMFC Atlantic Herring Section Approves Addendum I (February 3, 2009)

States Schedule Hearings on Atlantic Sea Herring Addendum I (January 5, 2009)

Atlantic Herring Section Seeks Public Comment on Draft Addendum I (December 19, 2008)

ASMFC Atlantic Herring Section Initiates Addendum to Address Effort Control Measures for Area 1A (October 20, 2008)

ASMFC Atlantic Herring Section Lowers Area 1A TAC to 45,000 Metric Tons for 2008 – 2009 (October 30, 2007)

ASMFC to Declare Maine Out of Compliance if Herring Spawning Closure Rule Fails Passage (August 16, 2007)

ASMFC Atlantic Herring Section Sets Area 1A TAC at 50,000MT for 2007 – 2009 (October 24, 2006)

Atlantic Herring Section Clarifies Amendment 2 Zero Tolerance Spawning Provision (August 15, 2006)

ASMFC Approves Atlantic Herring Amendment 2: Amendment Aims to Maintain High Abundance While Balancing Stakeholder Needs & Ecosystem Functions (February 23, 2006)

ASMFC Releases Draft Amendment 2 to the Atlantic Herring Plan for Public Comment: ASMFC & NEFMC to Conduct Joint Hearings in October (September 2, 2005)

ASMFC Releases Atlantic Herring PID for Public Comment: States Schedule Hearings for February (January 5, 2004)