Atlantic herring industry in Maine gets over $7 million to cope with fish losses

Atlantic herring industry in Maine gets over $7 million to cope with fish losses

Source: newscentermaine

5/5/2022

Atlantic herring industry in Maine gets over $7 million to cope with fish losses

Disaster-level instability in the Atlantic herring industry has prompted the federal government to give $11 million to commercial fishermen and shore-side infrastructure in four states.

A scientific assessment in 2020 found that herring are overfished, and quotas for the fish were reduced dramatically. The federal government declared a “fishery disaster” in November, clearing the way for assistance.

Atlantic herring are vital because they're used as bait by commercial lobstermen — who've been plagued by a bait crunch for years — as well as for food.

Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said Thursday that the herring industry in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island will get the assistance. More than $7 million is slated for Maine.

Raimondo said the assistance “will help affected fisheries and communities recover from disasters and make them more resilient to future challenges.”