NY River Herring Management
Stock status
To understand the condition of river herring (alewife and blueback herring) stocks on the Atlantic Coast, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) began a coast-wide benchmark stock assessment in February 2011. Benchmark assessments are in-depth analyses to determine river specific, and mixed, stock status. Once complete, the assessment undergoes a rigorous independent review. As a member of ASMFC, New York is participating in this assessment summarizing available data for river herring stocks in the state. This assessment is scheduled to be complete in 2012.
Interstate Management - Implementation of Amendment 2
In May 2009, ASMFC adopted Amendment 2 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Shad and River herring in response to declines in many river herring stocks along the Atlantic Coast. This amendment now guides river herring management for all Atlantic coastal states. New York, as a member of ASMFC, is required under federal law to follow this new management plan. In Amendment 2, the Shad and River Herring Management Board approved the following as the management measure for both commercial and recreational fisheries: States with river herring (anadromous alewife and blueback herring) stocks must close fisheries (commercial / recreational) except for those systems with a sustainable fishery. "Sustainable" is defined as "those that can demonstrate their alewife or blueback herring stock(s) could support a commercial and / or recreational fishery that will not diminish the potential future stock reproduction or recruitment." Simply, this means that data collected should indicate adults and production of young are not in decline. If you would like more information, the entire amendment can be found at ASMFC's website (link to the right). At ASMFC's site look under "Managed Species", and then select "Shad and River Herring."
What does this mean for fishers?
So what does Amendment 2 mean for you? Essentially, we must stop fishing for river herring in ALL waters of the state, unless we can show that any individual fishery, either recreational or commercial, is "sustainable" based on available data. For New York, only the Hudson River and its tributaries may qualify, and then only if certain management measures are put in place.
Sustainable Fishing Plan for New York River Herring Stocks
In order to comply with Amendment 2, the NYSDEC drafted a Sustainable Fishing Plan (SFP) for the state's river herring stocks. The SFP proposes a sustainable fishery for the Hudson River and its tributaries, based on our current understanding of stock status, with proposed restrictions to the existing fisheries. Current measures of Hudson River herring stock condition are inconsistent; some are increasing while others are in decline. Because of these conflicting indicators, along with the unlimited take allowed in the current Hudson recreational and commercial fisheries, the Hudson fisheries do not meet the sustainable definition. In order to continue a fishery in these waters, the SFP describes proposed regulatory changes, as well as the necessary monitoring and biological targets that must be achieved. Stakeholder input obtained at the three public information meetings held in 2010 and the informal comment period in August 2011. Also included in the SFP are proposed moratoriums on take of river herring for all streams on Long Island, Bronx County and southern Westchester County that empty into the East River and Long Island Sound, and the Delaware River and its tributaries north of Port Jervis, NY. The moratoriums are required as the limited data collected for some of these streams are not sufficient to determine stock condition and if a fishery could be sustainable. A copy of the plan that was submitted to ASMFC can be downloaded here: NY River Herring Sustainable Fishing Plan (PDF) (1.38 mB)
Next steps
Below is an estimated time table of SFP review and implementation.
| Estimated Date | Action |
|---|---|
| Sept. 28 | Revised Plan reviewed by ASMFC Shad & River herring Technical Committee. SFP recommned for approval to the Management Board |
| Nov 10, 2011 | Tentative ASMFC Shad and River Herring Management Board approval |
| Nov. 10- Jan 2012. | NYSDEC begins regulation change process to include formal pulbic hearings |
| March 14, 2012 | Implement regulations |
Questions
If you have any questions please email or mail your questions to the address on the right.
