Herring Fishery Slashed to 2,000 Pounds Per Trip in Maine Waters
Published Date: 12/4/2025
Rule
Summary
Starting December 2, 2025, fishermen in Area 1A can only catch and keep up to 2,000 pounds of Atlantic herring per trip to avoid overfishing. This temporary limit helps protect herring stocks and keeps future fishing seasons healthy. The rule lasts through December 31, 2025, and affects anyone fishing, selling, or handling herring in that area.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
2,000-lb Trip Limit for Area 1A
From December 2, 2025, through December 31, 2025, you may not fish for, possess, transfer, purchase, receive, land, or sell more than 2,000 pounds of Atlantic herring per trip or more than once per calendar day in or from Management Area 1A. This limit was put in place because catch was projected to reach 92 percent of the Area 1A sub-annual catch limit and was estimated at 102 percent through November 26, 2025.
Dealer Purchase and Possession Cap
Federally permitted dealers are prohibited from purchasing, receiving, possessing, selling, or transferring more than 2,000 pounds of herring per trip or per calendar day from Area 1A from 0001 hr local time December 2, 2025 through 2400 hr local time December 31, 2025. An exception applies for catch from vessels that entered port before 0001 hr on December 2, 2025 if landed under state management measures.
Overharvest Reduces Future Catch Opportunities
If Area 1A catches exceed the sub-ACL, the excess must be deducted from a future sub-ACL, which would reduce future fishing opportunities for Area 1A. NMFS implemented the possession limit to prevent such overharvest and protect future seasons.
Exceptions for Vessels Already at Sea
Vessels that enter port before 0001 hr local time on December 2, 2025 may land and sell more than 2,000 lb of Area 1A-caught herring from that trip if landed in accordance with state management measures. Vessels may also transit or land in Area 1A with more than 2,000 lb on board if the herring were caught outside the Area 1A limit, all fishing gear is stowed and not available for immediate use, and the vessel has a permit appropriate to the amount and harvest area.
Possibility to Lift Limit If New ACLs Finalized
If the proposed 2025-2027 herring specifications are finalized and increase the 2025 ACL and sub-ACLs, NMFS may lift the 2,000-lb Area 1A possession limit until 92 percent of the new 2025 Area 1A sub-ACL is projected to be caught, including catch harvested before the new specifications take effect.
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