Ban Brings Boom To Inshore Herring
by Chessie Johnson

Campobello Island weir fishermen Tyler Anthony, Kenneth Fitzsimmons, Jamie Estabrooks and Jodi Matthews pull together on the seine net to tighten the circle around the herring. The boundary of the weir, poles in the mud bottom and net, is in the background. Chessie Johnson photo © 2007

“I have never seen so many herring in one place. I have been fishing herring for a long time and dreamed of fishing days like this all my life.” said a crew member on the Polly B out of Grand Manan and was not the only fisherman pleased with this year’s herring fishery. Processors report that this year, they have bought over twice the total tonnage of last year, or the year before, and some may triple last year’s disappointing harvest. The plants still have their summer crews working, the latest for the extra workers for many years.

The past two mild winters are credited with helping to rebuild the stock, although some cite another possible reason for the bountiful harvest. One boat owner suggested that new restrictions in US waters has helped the harvest. “The quantity of fish is the highest I’ve seen for years, and I credit the controls on mid-water trawlers. Without them hauling up everything, there’s a chance for more fish to move up the coast.” Boat owners and captains are wont to provide exact figures, for competitive reasons, but all agreed that this was an exceptionally good year, both for the quantity of fish available and for the fair weather that allows them to lengthen the season.

Miner Matthews of Campobello Island, owner of the Man O’ War weir on the backside of Campobello Island, said, “This is the latest in the season we have ever fished the weirs on the island. The storms wreck the weirs because the weed builds up on the nets throughout the summer and fall. We’ve had good weather, more herring and good prices this year.” Miner and other weir owners pull nets, an investment of as much as $50,000, in the fall when bad weather threatens. Kyle Fletcher said, “This has been the best herring year in anyone’s memory. Sometimes this summer, we were working two tides a day, going from Campobello Island, Grand Manan and over to Blacks Harbour. Except for the first few days of the season, the price has held up good.”

Dwayne Galley,Glenn Matthews, Terance Preston and Curtis Mallock, Campobello fishermen bringing in the seine at night under a hunters moon. Chessie Johnson photo © 2007

Kenneth Fitzsimmons, a fisheman on Campobello, summed up the mood of everyone involved in the weir fishery this year. “The herring has been good this year. Everyone’s happy.” And, with a large mass of herring and prospects for another mild winter, many expect ‘everyone’ to be happy again next year.