Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A § 20, the Division of Marine Fisheries (MarineFisheries) is informing interested parties that the Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission (MFAC) will vote by fax poll to implement a seven day fishing week (no days out) for the Management Area 1A Atlantic sea herring directed fishery from August 8 – September 30, 2011.  The action was approved by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Sea Herring Section’s Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts Commissioners on August 1, 2011.  The MFAC fax poll closes at 4:00 PM on Friday, August 5 and is consistent with the procedure detailed at 322 CMR 9.00. 

The proposed Management Area 1A days-out specifications to begin on August 8, 2011 are as follows:

Vessels in the directed sea herring fishery: From August 8 – September 30, 2011 vessels participating in the directed Atlantic sea herring fishery will have 7 open fishing days per week and no days out; Vessels participating in the directed fishery may only land Atlantic sea herring once per day on open fishing days. Vessels in the non-directed fishery: From August 8 – September 30 vessels may retain an incidental bycatch daily trip limit of sea herring, provided it does not exceed 2,000 lbs. These vessels are not subject to days-out specifications.

For further information regarding Atlantic sea herring management please visit our website at www.mass.gov/marinefisheries.