The problem is NOT with the recs or Indians taking a few for bait, the problem IS with the mid water trawlers who take all kinds of forage fish. Several species of herring, macs, etc. To say that the moratorium improved this is silly.
The by-catch in a single day of river herring by these guys exceeds what we recs take all season.
This is, yet again, an issue that fishery experts refuse to tackle.
One of the NB fishermen told me that one of the trawlers were asked what % of their catch is river herring? He said, not much, probably 1-3%. They put an observer on board...it was 30%.
Now this is dock talk so take it for what it is worth but it would not surprise me.
If they want to really improve the bait situation including herring:
a) Stop these mid water trawlers
b) Put some real money into the runs and rebuild them to their heyday. Ie. The run at edgartown great pond was (in the 1800's) was a mega run and made some people quite wealthy, its been dried up for many decades. There were several like this throughout the state. A few years ago, I heard they got 200K to do the excavation but last I heard all the money was used up to obtain the permits. again:
c) Until we see record limits again: no sale as bait or food. and make strict limits on recs with stiff penalties if violated.
I looked at our little run the other day and they were in there but so were 6 cormorants having a field day. We still protect cormorants..but that is for another rant