Atlantic herring fishery rules unchanged for 2026 – steady as she swims
Published Date: 12/23/2025
Rule
Summary
The 2026 Atlantic herring fishing rules are set and ready to go from January 1 to December 31, 2026. Fishermen and fishery managers will follow catch limits designed to protect herring and related species like river herring and shad, making sure the fish population stays healthy and fishing stays sustainable. No changes were needed from last year’s plans, so everyone can fish with confidence in these clear, protective rules.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
2026 ACL set at 9,134 metric tons
The 2026 Atlantic herring Annual Catch Limit (ACL) and domestic annual harvest are set at 9,134 metric tons and are effective January 1 through December 31, 2026. The rule notes this 2026 ACL is 64 percent higher than the adjusted 2025 ACL of 5,556 mt, providing additional economic opportunity for vessels participating in the herring fishery.
Area sub-ACL allocations published
The rule finalizes 2026 area sub-ACLs: Area 1A = 2,640 mt (28.9%), Area 1B = 393 mt (4.3%), Area 2 = 2,539 mt (27.8%), and Area 3 = 3,562 mt (39%). It also sets a Fixed Gear Set-Aside of 30 mt and a Research Set-Aside of 0 percent for 2026.
River herring and shad catch caps set
NMFS finalizes 2026 river herring and shad catch caps by gear/area: Gulf of Maine Midwater Trawl = 76.7 mt; Cape Cod Midwater Trawl = 32.4 mt; Southern New England Midwater Trawl = 129.6 mt; Southern New England Bottom Trawl = 122.3 mt. These caps apply for the January 1–December 31, 2026 fishing year.
Conditional reallocation tied to New Brunswick landings
If New Brunswick weir landings are less than 2,600 mt through October 1, 2026, then 1,000 mt will be subtracted from the management uncertainty and reallocated to the Area 1A sub-ACL and the ACL for 2026.
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