ATLANTIC HERRING A Keystone Species in the Northwest Atlantic COLIN ROBSON

The Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) is one Decade of Decline of the most important fishes While herring may appear abundant, their numbers have declined in the past decade. in New England. And many of their major predators are now depleted. If predator populations are to This energy-rich species plays rebound, the availability of major food sources—such as herring—must increase. Careful a vital role in the region’s marine and cautious management is critical not only to the health of herring populations, but ecosystem, serving as food for also to the ocean predators that depend on them. many of the ocean’s key preda- tors. Recent research reveals 900,000 Herring abundance fell 24 that predators can consume 854,000 300,000 tons of herring a year— 850,000 percent between 2000 and roughly three times the amount 2008, according to the 2009 caught by fishermen annually. 800,000 stock assessment update. Given the major role herring play 750,000 Source: Shepherd, G., et al., 2009. TRAC in the food chain, managers need Reference Document 2009/04, Table 19, p. 26. to take into account the needs 700,000 652,000 of predators when setting fishing 650,000

limits for herring. Estimated Biomass (Metric Tons) 600,000 Source: Overholtz, W.J., and J.S. Link. 2007. ICES 05 Journal of Marine Science 64:83-96. 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 20 2006 2007 2008 Predators in Peril KEITH ELLENBOGEN BHWW CO./ALLIED WHALE DIETER CRAASMANN ALEXANDER PERRY

Atlantic bluefin tuna Humpback Atlantic cod Atlantic puffin Thunnus thynnus and fin whales Gadus morhua Fratercula arctica Megaptera novaeangliae and Status: Overfished Balaenoptera physalus Status: Overfished Status: Threatened One of the ocean’s top predators, Atlantic cod are a top predator Puffins and other seabirds in the giant bluefin tuna migrate thou- Status: Endangered of herring. However, the abun- Gulf of Maine rely on abundant sands of miles to feed on herring These massive animals rely on dance of adult Georges Bank cod herring for successful breeding in New England waters. Declines abundant schools of herring to has dropped by more than 80 and reproduction. However, in landings of bluefin tuna and in fuel their long oceanic migrations. percent in the last three decades. studies conducted in 2005 the health of those tuna caught Industrial-scale fishing along With recovery plans in place, suggested that the availability coincided with the arrival of an the inshore Gulf of Maine may cod populations are expected of herring for nesting colonies industrial-scale midwater trawl have contributed to declines to increase, provided they have had declined and could be linked fleet that depleted herring in reported whale sightings. enough food, including herring, to increased harvesting by highly schools in inshore waters. Sources: Endangered Species Act of 1973; to support their growth. efficient midwater trawlers. Weinrich, M.T., et al., Abstracts of the 16th Source: Golet, W.J., et al., 2007. NOAA Fishery Sources: National Marine Fisheries Service; Sources: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries Biennial Conference on the Biology of Bulletin 105:390–395. Northeast Fisheries Science Center. 2008. and Wildlife Endangered Species Program; Marine Mammals, Dec. 12-16, 2005. NEFSC Reference Document 08-15. National Audubon’s Seabird Restoration Program, Egg Rock Update 2005, p. 4.

The Herring Alliance is a growing coalition of environmental and public interest organizations dedicated to protecting and restoring marine wildlife populations and ecosystems by reforming the Atlantic herring fishery. Case Studies: The Road to Recovery

GULF OF MAINE: THE OCEAN COMES BACK TO LIFE

Each year, large schools of Atlantic herring draw marine predators to the Gulf of Maine for a summer feeding frenzy. In the 1990s, however, a fleet of midwater trawlers began fishing for herring on an industrial scale. Soon, whale watch boat operators and fishermen noticed fewer whales, tuna and eventually herring. In 2007, these businesses joined

BHWW CO./ALLIED WHALE conservationists and concerned citizens to persuade fishery managers to ban midwater trawlers from fishing inshore during the herring spawning season. Within months, more herring, Man is the most marine mammals, bluefin tuna and seabirds were observed effective predator than had been seen in years. of herring. BHWW CO./ALLIED WHALE Herring and the fish that feed on them are under siege by a GROUNDFISH CLOSED AREA: NOT FAIR YET fleet of midwater trawlers. Mid-1990s: Small-scale 2004–08: Large bycatch October 2008: After a These industrial-scale vessels: boats fishing for cod and events documented by massive bycatch of haddock other groundfish are banned federal observers reveal that in Closed Area 1, the › reach 165 feet; from four designated closed trawlers do catch groundfish. National Marine Fisheries › hold 1 million pounds of fish; areas to protect juvenile Service requires fishery and spawning fish. December 2007: Midcoast observers on herring vessels › drag two-inch mesh nets the (Maine) Fishermen’s Associa- accessing the area. size of a football field and six February 1998: Industrial- tion files a lawsuit, still pend- stories high; size midwater herring ing, to exclude midwater December 2009: Hook › often tow nets using two trawlers are permitted to trawlers from closed areas fishermen from Chatham, vessels in a practice called fish in closed areas under the because of the threat posed Mass., file an appeal to pair trawling; assumption that their gear to groundfish recovery. overturn a loophole that does not catch groundfish. allows midwater trawlers › have the power to catch to dump unsampled catch. everything in their path.

Sources: Code of Federal Regulations, Title 50, Part 648; Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment, Taylor et al. v. Locke et al., No. 09-2289 (D.D.C. filed Dec. 2, 2009). “The current rules undermine our hard work to protect New England fish and preserve a livelihood for future generations of fishermen. This comes down to fairness. When the rules What Can You Do? are applied unevenly, everybody suffers, most importantly the fish.” Join the conversation on our website and sign up for our Glen Libby, commercial fisherman and Midcoast Fishermen’s e-mail newsletter to get the latest Association chairman

campaign updates. Contact the HERB SWANSON Herring Alliance with any questions or ideas at 617.728.0300 or [email protected]. Measures to Protect the Ecosystem

1. Access 2. Limits 3. Observers Prohibit industrial midwater Ensure that fishery managers Improve the monitoring of trawlers from fishing in groundfish set catch limits for the Atlantic industrial trawlers by increasing closed areas and other specific herring fishery that leave suffi- at-sea observer coverage and parts of the ocean, especially cient herring in the ecosystem plugging other loopholes, so within coastal areas and during for predators, so that industrial estimates of herring catch— spawning. This practice gives trawlers are not allowed to strip and bycatch of other important smaller-scale fishermen access the Northwest Atlantic of its populations, such as cod and to fish, provides nursery areas for keystone species. haddock, river herring, tuna and recovering cod stocks and allows marine mammals—are accurate. www.HerringAlliance.org big predators such as whales and tuna to feed.