Golden questions regulators over proposed reduction to herring quota
WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today sent a letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) questioning the methodology regulators used as the basis for a nearly 90 percent reduction to the Atlantic herring fishery quota for the next three years. The fishery supplies the primary bait used in the lobster fishery.
“Once again, Maine fishermen find themselves on the verge of economic ruin due to federal regulations based on incomplete and inadequate data. In my conversations with fishermen, it has always been clear that their top concerns are the sustainability of the stock and the ability for it to be harvested by future generations,” Golden wrote. “That is why these decisions must always be based on scientifically sound, comprehensive data that incorporates the invaluable input of those most impacted — the harvesters themselves.”
A July assessment by NOAA claims that the population of herring capable of reproducing is at 26 percent of the agency’s target. This sparked a proposal from NEFMC to reduce the species’ annual catch limit by 89 percent from 2025-2027 — the lowest level in the history of the Council’s Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan. However, Maine fishermen have expressed concern that the research vessel used to measure the herring stock is unable to operate in the areas fishermen actually target the species, instead trawling at depths fishermen avoid due to the low concentration of herring.
According to the Maine Department of Marine Resources, Atlantic herring landings in Maine during 2019 totaled an estimated 13 million pounds and $5.8 million in ex-vessel value.
“NEFSA is thankful that Congressman Golden is drawing criticism to the massive, 90 percent cut to the herring quota for the next two years. Very little attention has been given to this action which will eliminate more commercial fishermen from their livelihoods,” commercial fishermenJerry LeemanandDustin Delano, CEO and COO of the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association, respectively, said. “We thank Congressman Golden for his efforts and hope the council will reconsider its egregious decision to further decimate the commercial fishing fleet.”
“We're grateful to Rep. Golden for speaking out against this misinformed change to the herring quota. Moving forward with a near total cut would be absolutely devastating for fishermen, the lobster industry, and the coastal communities that depend on them,” Virginia Olsen, commercial lobsterman and director of the Maine Lobstering Union said. “It's more proof that he is not afraid to work across party lines to support fishermen and that matters to me.”
Golden’s letter pressed the agencies on whether they also include industry-based surveys like those considered by Canadian regulators, how spawning data is collected if both regulators and fishermen avoid operating in herrings’ spawning waters, and why there was not an economic impact study conducted during the process.
“My main concern with this seemingly unreasonable quota reduction is that these fishermen will be forced to switch over to a less desirable species of fish. Next season, when everyone has to substitute herring with something else, the increased demand in these alternative baits will make the already rising cost of doing business hard for these fishermen hard to justify fishing in the spring, early summer, and late fall…” Alex Poke, general manager at the Winter Harbor co-op said. “...I expect there to be more frequent and longer periods where I can't find any bait for the lobster fishermen here at the co-op.”
“Thank you to Rep. Golden for highlighting these ill-informed quota reductions. These reductions will have crushing economic impacts on my family and our community,” Branden Loveyjoy, a herring fisherman and bait dealer from Columbia said. “I, too, am concerned about the sustainability of the fishery and the next generation, but these reductions go too far without the data to inform them.”
Full text of Golden’s letter can be found here, and is included below in full:
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October 30, 2024
Michael Pentony
Regional Administrator
Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office
NOAA Fisheries
55 Great Republic Drive
Gloucester, MA 01930
Jon Hare, PhD
Science and Research Director
Northeast Fisheries Science Center
NOAA Fisheries
166 Water Street
Woods Hole, MA 02543
Cate O’Keefe, PhD
Executive Director
New England Fishery Management Council
50 Water Street, Mill 2
Newburyport, MA 01950
Dear Administrator Pentony, Dr. Hare, and Dr. O’Keefe:
I am writing to seek additional information regarding the action the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) recently took to reduce the Atlantic herring fishery quota by nearly 90 percent for fishing year 2025-2027. Based on conversations I have had with Maine fishermen, I am concerned that this decision by the NEFMC was predicated on inaccurate and incomplete surveys and estimates of spawning stock biomass data that also fails to account for the potential economic impacts on fishing communities.
As you know, the Atlantic herring fishery is an essential part of Maine’s marine economy and is the most important pelagic fishery resource in the state. According to the Maine Department of Marine Resources, in 2019 Atlantic herring landings in Maine were around 13 million pounds, valued at an estimated $5.8 million ex-vessel. This fishery also supplies the primary bait used in our lobster fishery, one of the most valuable in the nation at $464 million. Together, these fisheries employ thousands of Mainers through dealers and seafood processors, vessel and trap manufacturers, restaurants, and other coastal businesses..
That is why I was alarmed when the NEFMC passed new specifications for the Atlantic herring fishery that will result in the lowest catch limits in the history of the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan. This is despite the fact that for some time, I have heard from fishermen who have expressed their concerns about the Henry B. Bigelow (Bigelow), the sole survey vessel used by the federal government to determine the abundance and health of the inshore Atlantic herring stock. While the Bigelow may be a capable vessel – when operational – for conducting trawling operations in depths of 600 feet or greater, due to potential gear conflicts and bottom conditions closer to the coast, it is unable to tow in the areas that Maine’s herring fishermen utilize most.
This is particularly true in the interior of area 1A, which is between one and 20 nautical miles from shore. It is here where fishermen are telling me that they are observing herring in volumes they have not seen in recent years, while the Bigelow trawls areas in which they would never consider fishing. Moreover, due to major mechanical issues in the Spring of 2023, the vessel was prevented from conducting tows for the three-year stock assessments for any of the fisheries it samples – including Atlantic herring. The discrepancy between the experience of harvesters and the practical limitations of the Bigelow raises legitimate questions as to whether or not federal regulators are capturing accurate and complete data of the herring stock that is then being used to inform fishing quotas.
In order to better understand the methodology behind the NEFMC’s decision-making for setting a 90 percent quota reduction for Atlantic herring, I would appreciate your answers to the following questions:
- The Canadian herring fishery utilizes industry boats and fishermen who know how to operate the vessels and the gear required to target a particular fish species effectively. Has the NEFMC considered industry-based surveys that utilize the observations of experienced herring fishermen when making quota decisions or to validate assessments conducted by the Bigelow?
2. Fishermen intentionally avoid spawning areas; if they catch spawned herring, they risk being shut down by federal regulators. If the Bigelow is not operating during these spawning seasons or in these areas, and fishermen are prohibited from catching spawned fish, how is this data collected?
3. Based on the Atlantic herring quotas in the motion the NEFMC voted to approve for 2025-2027, we are certain to see crippling economic conditions for those fishermen and other fisheries that are dependent on herring. Why was no shore-side economic impact study conducted to understand the socioeconomic harm these proposed reductions would cause?
Once again, Maine fishermen find themselves on the verge of economic ruin due to federal regulations based on incomplete and inadequate data. In my conversations with fishermen, it has always been clear that their top concerns are the sustainability of the stock and the ability for it to be harvested by future generations. That is why these decisions must always be based on scientifically sound, comprehensive data that incorporates the invaluable input of those most impacted – the harvesters themselves.
I will continue to monitor this situation closely and appreciate your attention to this important matter.
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