Notice to all Commercial Menhaden Harvesters: Episodic Fishery OPENS Monday, August 17, 2026 at 12:01 a.m.

Good afternoon,

This notice is to inform harvesters that Maine has been approved to participate in the Episodic Event Set Aside (EESA) fishery. The commercial menhaden fishery will re-open under EESA quota on Monday, August 17, 2026 at 12:01 a.m.

As a reminder, harvest for menhaden while in EESA occurs on Mondays and Thursdays with a daily trip limit of 7,000 pounds. Same day electronic reporting is required.

As previously mentioned, Massachusetts has been harvesting under the EESA quota of 4.1 million pounds since the last week of July. While the Department has received comments requesting a weekly trip limit during EESA, the number of active commercial vessels anticipated to participate in EESA next week could risk a landings overage of the remaining EESA quota. As a result and in accordance with our regulations, we will remain at a daily trip limit and closely monitor to ensure we do not experience an overage.

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For questions regarding menhaden management, please contact Melissa Smith ([email protected], 207.441.5040) or Megan Ware ([email protected], 207.446.0932)