An Information System to Avoid River Herring (Alosa pseudoharengus, A. aestivalis) Bycatch in the Northwest-Atlantic

Managers of the Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) and mackerel (Scomber Scombrus) fisheries have added river herring (Alosa pseudoharengus, Alosa aestivalis) bycatch reduction as a management goal and are currently considering adding regulations to reduce or cap river herring bycatch. A collaboration between the Sustainable Fisheries Coalition, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF), and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth School of Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) seeks to address this issue by helping mid-water trawl fishermen to avoid river herring. A major part of this project is a near real-time system, based on the program developed at SMAST for the Altantic sea scallop fishery, to inform fishermen of the location and magnitude of river herring catches. Catch composition is compiled through the MA DMF port sampling program which relies on electronic communications from captains that identify the location and time of vessel landings. Estimated species weights and tow locations are then emailed to SMAST within two days of vessel landing. This information is then analyzed at SMAST and sent to fishing vessels through Boatrac emails. To simplify and reduce the amount of emails and text sent, areas with historically high amounts of river herring bycatch were assigned coded grids. The grids, which were distributed by mail and in person, are then referred to in order to establish a location that is classified as having high, moderate, or low bycatch. Though technologically simple each step of this system confronts challenges relating to accuracy, privacy, and usefulness.