Hi John. The 4 places I check REGULARLY have been devoid of herring. It has
seemed a downward trend here for a couple years but there are a few things to keep in mind.
Herring return in 4 or 5 years to the rivers they were born in. So the note about drouts of 4-5 years ago makes some sense too.
The poaching that does go on is effin' stupid but I don't think it is the major faults of the herring problems. Sure, people grabbing a bunch of herring plus the commercial free reign on the runs for lobster bait is a problem. And every swinging richard taking a bunch of herring now as they are swiming upstream to spawn
are are not doing the fish a service. PLEASE let them spawn before you take them. Sure, they are a bit beaten up on the down swing but they have spawned.
Chef - A lot of those herring trucks with transplanted herring are probably from the Middleboro system. That is apparently where the bulk of the transplants come from. The thought being those transplanted fry will come back in 4-5 years once mature...
I fear that by far the largest problem with the herring is that offshore pair trawl fishery.
Be prepared for more stringent rules or a no take in RI next year. All in the name of russian fertilizer
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