Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Herring Fishery; Specification of Management Measures for Atlantic Herring for the 2016-2018 Fishing Years

NMFS proposes regulations to implement the 2016-2018 fishery specifications and management measures for the Atlantic herring fishery. The specifications would set harvest specifications and river herring/shad catch caps for the herring fishery for the 2016-2018 fishing years as recommended to NMFS by the New England Fishery Management Council. The river herring/shad catch caps are area and gear-specific catch caps for river herring and shad for trips landing more than 6,600 lb (3 mt) of herring. The specifications and management measures are set in order to meet conservation objectives while providing sustainable levels of access to the fishery.