Consistent with 322 CMR 9.05, the Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission has approved and the Division of Marine Fisheries (MarineFisheries) has established days-out specifications for sea herring fishery in Management Area 1A from October 1 – October 14 and October 15 – December 31.  The days-out for these periods were approved by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Sea Herring Section’s Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts Commissioners on September.

Vessels in the directed sea herring fishery:  From October 1 - October 14 vessels in the Management Area 1A directed fishery are allowed to land Atlantic sea herring Monday – Friday, with days-out on Saturday and Sunday. From October 15 – December 31, or until the area specific quota is taken, vessels in the Management Area 1A directed fishery are allowed to land Atlantic sea herring Monday – Thursday, with days out on Friday – Sunday; Vessels participating in the Management Area 1A directed fishery may only land Atlantic sea herring once per day on open fishing days. Vessels in the non-directed fishery: From October 1 – December 31 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.