Recent changes in coastwide American shad and river herring management through the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

Within the last year there have been significant changes in the commercial and recreational management of American shad and river herring. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), which is an inter-state agency comprised of the states and jurisdictions along the Atlantic Coast, has recently adopted Amendments 2 and 3 to the Shad and River Herring Fishery Management Plan (FMP). These amendments establish a coastwide moratorium on the commercial and recreational fisheries for American shad and river herring, with exceptions for systems that have proven to be sustainable. Management changes were prompted by an increasing concern over declining stocks of American shad and river herring, as well as a need for additional scientific data to guide management. In 2007 the ASMFC completed a benchmark stock assessment for American shad which indicated that American shad stocks are at all-time lows and do not appear to be recovering. A benchmark stock assessment for river herring is expected to be completed in 2011. Additionally the ASMFC is closely following the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils’ progress on Amendments 5 (Atlantic Herring) and 14 (Squid, Butterfish and Mackerel), which address alosine bycatch in ocean fisheries.