Fishery managers withdraw changes to Atlantic herring management plan due to industry impacts

Interstate fishing managers are withdrawing planned changes to the Atlantic herring fishery.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission had issued a draft amendment to its herring management plan that addressed issues such as spawning protections. Members of the commission's Atlantic Herring Section said Monday they were concerned about the potential impacts of the measures on the fishing industry.

A commission spokeswoman says the section's chair, Terry Stockwell, will provide guidance to commission staff about changes to the spawning protection measures in August. The proposed spawning protection measures will then be refined for consideration in November.

American fishermen caught more than 200 million pounds of Atlantic herring in 2013. The biggest catches were in Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It is used for food and bait.