NOTICE OF AGENCY EMERGENCY RULE-MAKING: CHAPTER 36.01 HERRING MANAGEMENT PLAN

The Department announces the following emergency rule, effective June 2, 2018: 

Chapter 36.01 Herring Management Plan: Atlantic herring may only be landed from Management Area 1A on days that have been designated landing days by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). At the Days Out meeting on April 25, 2018, the Atlantic Herring Section determined that landing days for all vessels issued a Federal Limited Access Atlantic Herring Category A Permit for Management Area 1A, Trimester 2 (June 1 – September 30) may be four consecutive days, beginning on 6:00 p.m. Sunday to 6:00 p.m. Thursday and vessels are limited to landing 480,000 lbs (12 trucks) weekly; and, may transfer to one carrier vessel per week up to 80,000 lbs (2 trucks). All vessels issued a Federal Limited Access Atlantic Herring Permit Category C may fish and land Atlantic herring seven days a week and may transfer no more than 120,000 lbs weekly to a carrier. All vessels landing herring caught in Management Area 1A in any Maine port are limited to one landing per 24 hour period (6:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.). The Commissioner has determined that it is necessary to take emergency action to implement these limitations to prevent the depletion of the supply of Atlantic herring and to comply with the changes to the interstate management of the Atlantic herring resource. The Commissioner hereby adopts this emergency regulation as authorized by 12 M.R.S. §6171(3)(C). 

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