The Atlantic herring fishery will close Saturday for the offshore Gulf of Maine region after 92 percent of the total allowable catch had been caught.

Atlantic herring is often canned for consumer use and also used as bait fish for lobster and blue crab.

The National Marine Fisheries Service said the fishery will be closed from Saturday through May 1, 2015.

In 2013, Atlantic herring accounted for 32 percent of commercial fish landings in Maine by volume, but accounted for only 3 percent of the state’s $531 million commercial fishery.

During the closure, vessels that had been issued federal permits for Atlantic herring may not retain or land more than 2,000 pounds of Atlantic herring from the offshore Gulf of Maine area per trip or per day.

Fishing boats may travel through the area with more than 2,000 pounds of herring on board as long as the vessel did not catch those herring in the closed area.

The vessel also must stow all fishing gear, making it unavailable for immediate use.


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