NOAA Fisheries has announced a significant reduction in Atlantic herring catch limits for 2025, effective January 1, 2025, in response to a recent stock assessment indicating that the herring biomass is approximately 25 percent of the level needed to support maximum sustainable yield.
The revised 2025 specifications are as follows:
- Overfishing Limit (OFL): Reduced from 40,727 metric tons (mt) to 18,273 mt.
- Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC): Decreased from 28,181 mt to 6,741 mt.
- Annual Catch Limit (ACL): Lowered from 23,961 mt to 2,710 mt.
- Area 1A Sub-ACL: Reduced from 6,925 mt to 783 mt.
- Area 1B Sub-ACL: Decreased from 1,030 mt to 117 mt.
- Area 2 Sub-ACL: Lowered from 6,661 mt to 753 mt.
- Area 3 Sub-ACL: Reduced from 9,345 mt to 1,057 mt.
These adjustments aim to mitigate the risk of overfishing and support the rebuilding of the Atlantic herring stock.
The New England Fishery Management Council has recommended further reduced specifications for 2025-2027, which NOAA Fisheries intends to implement through proposed and final rulemaking as soon as possible.
However, to ensure that the new 2025 specifications are in place at the start of the fishing year on January 1, NOAA Fisheries has utilized its in-season adjustment authority to implement these reductions immediately.
Atlantic herring plays a crucial role in the marine ecosystem and is vital to the Northeast's fishing industry, serving as a primary bait source for lobster, blue crab, and tuna fisheries. The latest assessment indicates that while overfishing is no longer occurring, the stock remains overfished, with the spawning stock biomass at only 26 percent of the target level, according to an Oct. 8 National Fisherman article.
Fishermen and stakeholders are advised to review the updated regulations and adjust their operations accordingly to comply with the new catch limits.
To find more information, visit the NOAA Fisheries bulletin.
