Federal regulators have proposed expanding catch limits for Atlantic herring, reversing course on earlier restrictions set to bring the stressed fishery back from the edge of collapse.
NOAA Fisheries’ proposed rule would expand 2025 harvest limits to 4,556 metric tons, 68 percent higher than the current limit of 2,710 metric tons. The proposal, which adopted recommendations from the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC), would further raise catch limits to 9,134 metric tons in 2026.
“The Council’s proposed specifications is anticipated to prevent overfishing and meet other conservation and management goals for the fishery,” Jamie Cournane, the NEFMC’s lead fishery analyst for Atlantic herring, said in a statement.
A small silvery schooling fish, Atlantic herring serves as both a vital source of food for larger species and bait for commercial fishing. The keystone species has seen dramatic population swings in the past decade and was classified as overfished by NOAA Fisheries in 2020.
