Effective 0001 hours on Monday, September 21st, it shall be unlawful to possess or land sea herring caught from the Massachusetts/New Hampshire Spawning Area (322 CMR 9.03). This closure extends through October 18th, but may be extended by the Director if MarineFisheries sampling of herring landings indicates that spawning is ongoing. This is one of a few spawning closures in the Gulf of Maine timed to anticipate when herring begin their autumn spawning.

Spawning area boundaries begin at the intersection of 43°30' N latitude and the Maine coast, then in a SW direction along the coast to the intersection of 70°00' W longitude with the Cape Cod shoreline, then north along 70°00'W to its intersection with 43°30' N latitude, then along the 43°30N line back to the coast. Vessels participating in other fisheries may retain an incidental catch of herring that does not exceed more than 2,000 lbs of herring per trip.

For further information please visit our website at: www.mass.gov/marinefisheries