New Recreational Herring Limits In Effect

[NCangler]

MOREHEAD CITY (Feb. 14, 2006) – Recreational fishermen are reminded new 2006 harvest limits are in effect for river herring.

Anglers, including Recreational Commercial Gear license holders, are limited to12 river herring (alewife and blueback herring) per person, per day, taken from North Carolina coastal or joint waters. The recreational river herring season in coastal and joint waters will close on April 14.

The harvest limit for inland waters is 25 fish per day.

In November 2005, the Marine Fisheries Commission requested the Division of Marine Fisheries implement stricter harvest measures for the 2006 season because the river herring stock is in serious trouble. The recreational harvest was cut from 25 to 12 fish per day. The commercial harvest was reduced from 300,000 pounds to 100,000 pounds to be divided between various user groups in the Albemarle Sound area.

The stricter limits are interim measures put in place until the DMF completes an update of the state’s River Herring Fishery Management Plan. The revised plan should be completed in June 2006 and will include proposals to address the poor condition of the river herring stock.

For more information about river herring restrictions, please visit the Division of Marine Fisheries Web site at: http://www.ncdmf.net/procs/procs2k6/FF-8-2006.html or contact Sara Winslow at 252-264-3911 or 800-338-7805.