PORTLAND, Maine — Interstate fishing regulators say the rules for fishing Atlantic herring have changed in an attempt to reduce waste.
An amendment to the herring rules says the holds of the fishing boats where the catch is stored must be empty before the ship departs. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission says the change will encourage fishermen to harvest the fish in line with market demand.
Herring are fished for use as bait as well as food. Fishermen caught more than 200 million pounds of the fish in 2014 at a value of about $28.8 million. The biggest herring fishing states were Maine and Massachusetts.
The rule change is contingent on adoption in federal waters.