National Marine Fisheries Service

01/17/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/17/2025 14:31

Atlantic Herring Management Area 3 Possession Limit Adjustment

As of 00:01 hr local time on January 19, 2025, through December 31, 2025, no one may attempt or do any of the following: Fish for, possess, transfer, purchase, receive, land, or sell more than 2,000 lb of herring per trip or more than once per calendar day in or from Area 3.

Vessels that have entered port before 00:01 hr local time on January 19, 2025 may land and sell more than 2,000 lb of herring from Management Area 3 from that trip, provided that catch is landed in accordance with state management measures. While this possession limit is in place, vessels may transit or land in Area 3 with more than 2,000 lb of herring on board, provided that: The herring were caught in an area not subject to a 2,000-lb (907.2-kg) limit, all fishing gear is stowed and not available for immediate use, and the vessel is issued a permit appropriate to the amount of herring on board and the area where the herring was harvested.

Also effective 00:01 hr local time on January 19, 2025, 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 herring per trip or calendar day from Area 3, unless it is from a vessel that enters port before 00:01 hr local time on January 19, 2025 and catch is landed in accordance with state management measures.

This bulletin serves as a Small Entity Compliance Guide, complying with section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996.