Herring spawning closures taking place this fall

New Hampshire/Massachusetts Spawning Area

Herring spawning closure regulations which affect the capture of herring in state and federal waters in the New Hampshire/Massachusetts Spawning Area, which includes waters off southern Maine, will be in effect September 16 through October 13, 2011. It shall be unlawful to fish for, take, possess, transfer, or land in any State of Maine port or facility, or to transfer at sea from any Maine registered vessel, any catch of herring harvested from the following described area:  All waters bounded by the Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine coasts, and 43o 30’ N and 70o 00’ W.

Herring taken legally outside the New Hampshire/Massachusetts Spawning Area may be transported through the area, only if all of its fishing gear has been stowed.

Western Maine Spawning Area Herring spawning closure regulations which affect the capture of herring in state and federal waters in the Western Maine Spawning Area will be in effect September 4, through October 1, 2011. It shall be unlawful to fish for, take, possess, transfer, or land in any State of Maine port or facility, or to transfer at sea from any Maine registered vessel, any catch of herring harvested from the following described area: All waters bounded by the following coordinates: 43° 30’ N         Maine coast 43° 30’ N         68° 54.5’ W 43° 48’ N         68° 20’ W North to Maine coast at 68° 20’ W Herring taken legally outside the Western Maine Spawning Area may be transported through the area, only if all fishing gear has been stowed.

Eastern Maine Spawning Area Herring spawning closure regulations which affect the capture of spawning herring in state and federal waters in the Eastern Maine Spawning Area will be in effect August 25th through September 21st, 2011. It shall be unlawful to fish for, take, possess, transfer, or land in any State of Maine port or facility, or to transfer at sea from any Maine registered vessel, any catch of herring harvested from the following described area: All waters bounded by the following coordinates: Maine coast   68° 20’ W 43° 48’ N       68° 20’ W 44° 25’ N       67° 03’ W North along the US/Canada border Herring taken legally outside the Eastern Maine Spawning Area may be transported through the area only if all fishing gear has been stowed.