Menhaden Fishery Reopened
September 17, 2018

The fishery for Atlantic menhaden is managed through the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). Maine’s allocated quota share for 2018 was 2,439,114 pounds, which was fully consumed on July 22, 2018. Recently, the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) has been the recipient of additional quota via transfers of Atlantic menhaden quota from partnering states to allow for a re-opening of the directed fishery for the fall.

As a result of these transfers, Maine has reopened the State Allocation fishery.

Beginning September 17, 2018, harvest may occur between 12:01 a.m. on Monday and 11:59 p.m. Thursday each week; daily landing limit is reduced by this regulation to 80,000 pounds, with a weekly limit of 160,000 pounds. Harvesting and landings are restricted to Maine territorial waters and may occur once per 24-hour period.

All landings must be reported daily via email to menhaden.dmr@maine.gov. The Commissioner has determined that it is necessary to take emergency action to implement the reduction of the daily limit to prevent the depletion of the supply of Atlantic menhaden. The Commissioner hereby adopts this emergency regulation as authorized by 12 M.R.S. §6171(3)(B).