PORTLAND, Maine - The federal government is shutting down the Atlantic herring fishery for part of the Gulf of Maine until May.
The National Marine Fisheries Service is projecting that the fishery has already exceeded 92 percent of its total allowable catch for October, November and December in the inshore Gulf of Maine area. The service says the fishery will close Sunday and remain closed until May 31, 2015.
Vessels with federal permits for Atlantic herring are not allowed to retain or land more than 2,000 pounds of the fish per day or trip in the closed area. Vessels participating in other fisheries are allowed to retain and land an incidental catch of herring from the closed area if it is less than 2,000 pounds per trip.