Herring catches will decrease by one third this year in Southwest Nova Scotia.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans released its 2022 management plan for the fishery, with the total allowable catch at just over 23,000 tonnes, down from 35,000 last year.
In a release, Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray says the stock in the area and the Bay of Fundy is in critical condition, and DFO will work with harvesters, rights-holders and scientists as they look toward long-term sustainability.
More than one thousand people in rural Nova Scotia and New Brunswick work with herring, as it’s a main source of bait for the lobster and snow crab fisheries.
It’s the first catch decrease since 2019.
Murray says this will reduce pressure on the stock and recognize the needs of communities that depend on the fishery.
The Atlantic-herring fishery brought in over 21 million dollars last year.
The Indigenous Food, Social and Ceremonial fishery will not impacted by the decision.
Management Plan Released for Atlantic Herring in Southwest Nova Scotia and the Bay of Fundyhttps://t.co/EHK7w27W08
— GC Newsroom (@NewsroomGC) June 21, 2022
