NOAA Cuts Herring Catch Limits for 2025-2027 Survival
Published Date: 12/11/2025
Rule
Summary
Starting December 11, 2025, Atlantic herring fishers in the Northeast get a big boost with catch limits rising up to 237% for 2026 and 2027! These changes help protect herring populations while letting fishermen catch more, based on fresh science. This means a healthier ocean and better fishing opportunities for the next three years.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
Big Herring Catch Limit Increases
Starting with the 2025 fishing year, Atlantic herring annual catch limits (ACLs) rise from the current 2025 ACL of 2,710 metric tons (mt) to a new 2025 ACL of 4,556 mt (a 68% increase). The rule also projects a 2026 and 2027 ACL of 9,134 mt (a 237% increase compared to the current 2025 ACL). NMFS projects up to $1.56 million in additional industry revenue for 2025 and up to $5.25 million additional revenue for 2026 and 2027 compared to the current 2025 ACL.
Rebuilding Deadline Extended to 2031
The rule revises the Atlantic herring target rebuilding date from 2028 to 2031. NMFS says this revised date reflects the 2024 stock assessment and remains within the 10-year rebuilding period required by law.
Two-Year Carryover Ban (2025–2026)
For the 2025 and 2026 fishing years, no unharvested catch may be carried over and added to any management area sub-ACL. This exception to the normal carryover rule applies only to those two years.
New Brunswick Weir Adjustment Can Add 1,000 mt
If New Brunswick weir landings are under 2,600 mt through October 1, NMFS will subtract 1,000 mt from management uncertainty and reallocate that 1,000 mt to the ACL and the Area 1A sub-ACL, then notify the Council and publish the adjustment. NMFS applied such a reallocation effective November 17, 2025, which increased the 'new' 2025 ACL to 5,556 mt and the 'new' 2025 Area 1A sub-ACL to 2,317 mt in the agency's accounting.
River Herring and Shad Catch Caps Kept for 2025–2027
The rule maintains current river herring and shad catch caps for 2025 and projects the same caps for 2026 and 2027. The caps by area are: Gulf of Maine midwater trawl 76.7 mt, Cape Cod midwater trawl 32.4 mt, Southern New England midwater trawl 129.6 mt, and Southern New England bottom trawl 122.3 mt.
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Key Dates
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