NOAA Fisheries Announces River Herring and Shad Cape Cod Catch Cap Closure Area Possession Limit Adjustment for Atlantic Herring-Effective January 23, 2024

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NOAA Fisheries - New England - Mid Atlantic Bulletin

January 22, 2024

NOAA Fisheries Announces River Herring and Shad Cape Cod Catch Cap Closure Area Possession Limit Adjustment for Atlantic Herring

Effective January 23, 2024

NOAA Fisheries has projected that 95 percent of the 2024 Cape Cod Catch Cap for river herring and shad will be harvested by January 23, 2024. As a result, we are implementing a 2,000-lb Atlantic herring possession limit for Atlantic herring vessels fishing with midwater trawl gear in the Cape Cod Catch Cap Closure Area through the remainder of fishing year 2024.

Effective 00:01 hr local time on January 23, 2024, through 24:00 hr local time on December 31, 2024, Atlantic herring midwater trawl vessels may not attempt or do any of the following: Fish for, possess, transfer, receive, land, or sell more than 2,000 lb of Atlantic herring from the Cape Cod Catch Cap Closure Area per trip; or land Atlantic herring from the Cape Cod Catch Cap Closure Area more than once per calendar day.

Also effective 00:01 hr local time, January 23, 2024, through 24:00 hr local time, December 31, 2024, federally permitted dealers may not attempt or do any of the following: Purchase; receive; possess; have custody or control of; sell; barter; trade; or transfer more than 2,000 lb of Atlantic herring per trip or calendar day from an Atlantic herring midwater trawl vessel fishing in the Cape Cod Catch Cap Closure Area, unless it is from a vessel that enters port before 00:01 hr local time on January 23, 2024, and catch is landed in accordance with state management measures.

Midwater trawl vessels that enter port before 00:01 hr local time on January 23, 2024, may land and sell, and dealers may receive or purchase, more than 2,000 lb of Atlantic herring from a trip in the Cape Cod Catch Cap Closure Area, provided that catch is landed in accordance with state management measures. 

For more details, see our fishery bulletin.

Questions?

Fishermen: Contact Louis Forristall, Regional Office, (978) 281-9231

Media: Contact GARFO Public Affairs