In this case we’re talking about the sea herring population.  The “techs” have reported that this stock is not overfished and overfishing is not occurring.  Still, the recreational fishing community, the tuna industry and of course the save everything environmental crowd are now arguing that herring stocks may be depleted.  Actually the new buzzword is “localized depletion”.  That means they may be everywhere else but not here.  Herring stocks in the North Atlantic do mix and yes it is believed there is more then one stock.

 We’ve seen this same drumbeat from recreational interests in the mid-Atlantic over menhaden.  Now it’s herring in the Northeast.  To digress, menhaden stocks are just fine in the mid-Atlantic and in fact the biologists have noted that “fishing has virtually no affect on that species” and that the likely cause of any perceived shortage is too many predator fish.  Still the cry down there is restrict the commercial harvest.  Up here it’s the same – restrict in some way, the commercial harvesters.

 The contention here as well as further south is that there’s not enough forage base of herring or menhaden to feed all the starving striped bass, dogfish, tuna, whales, cod and everything else that swims in the big pond.  How do we feed all the masses, restrict the commercial harvest of course! 

Statistics show that the estimated stock size of herring is 1.2 million metric tons out in the great North Atlantic.  The commercial fishery is already limited by a quota and that total quota could be reduced slightly to about 220,000 mt.  Actually, only about 100,000 mt is taken on average each year.  That leaves, let’s see, subtract that from this, almost 1 million metric tons of herring for forage and that certainly should be enough.  Oh, but those figures can’t be right!  Here we go.  No one wants to believe the figure if it goes against their thinking.  They only agree if it supports their position.

 It seems that every year around this time we get ourselves into a discussion about herring and why is that?  The reason is lobster bait.  The lobster industry depends heavily on herring.  We also use menhaden.  Groundfish “cuttings” used to be a major source of bait but with that industry heavily  regulated that supply has dwindled.  More pressure is now being placed on herring and perhaps to a lesser degree on menhaden.  Think this issue isn’t important?  The next time you saunter down to your local bait dealer and find out there’s a shortage and the price when up again, remember this discussion.  Lobster bait is the largest market for sea herring.  It is also worth more to herring fishermen and dealers then the other commercial users, namely, sardines and export food products.  Even those who don’t use herring for bait can be affected because if herring isn’t available more pressure is then put on the other bait supplies.

The federal Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission are in the process of revising their respective management plans for sea herring.  They are being pressured to further restrict herring fishing in various ways.  While a few ideas may have merit, such as some controls on more big boats entering the fishery or restricting at-sea processing which would hurt the bait, sardine and shoreside processing industries, not much more is needed at this time.

 A major source of herring for Massachusetts lobstermen comes from Massachusetts and New Hampshire based herring trawlers and it is these operations that are under attack.

 The managers are stuck somewhat between a rock and a hard place trying to accommodate all sides.  Given the stock status and the current precautionary quota limits on the commercial catch as well as the spawning area restrictions, we feel there is little need to clamp down even more on the sea herring fishermen.

 This is a big fight over an important little fish.   

Bill Adler, Executive Director                  

7/05