New Decision on Atlantic Herring Provides Some Relief for Beleaguered Stock

July 5, 2024

HALIFAX—Today, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announced that the total allowable catch for the Southwest Nova Scotia/Bay of Fundy herring stock would be 16,000 tonnes—a 5,000-tonne reduction from the current quota. This total allowable catch will remain the same over the next four years as the department prepares a new rebuilding plan for the stock, which has been critically depleted since 2017.

“While the new quota is higher than what projections say is necessary if we want to rebuild the stock over the next decade, it’s still a significant decrease that will hopefully bring us closer to the path of recovery,” says Katie Schleit, Fisheries Director at Oceans North.

Like capelin and mackerel, Atlantic herring are considered “forage fish,” which play a key role in marine ecosystems by moving energy up and down the food chain. Unfortunately, forage fish stocks throughout Atlantic Canada have seen steep declines, and herring are no exception. For over 20 years, status reports for the Southwest Nova Scotia/Bay of Fundy stock have indicated the need for rebuilding, and it has been in the critical zone for the last seven. However, decisions have continued to prioritize short-term outcomes over the long-term health of the stock.

A recent report commissioned by Oceans North shows that this short-sighted approach causes not only environmental impacts, but also economic ones. “The contribution of forage fish like Atlantic herring to the broader ecosystem and economy is often overlooked by decision-makers,” Schleit explains. But when their full value is accounted for, the results support rebuilding, which will ultimately lead to more herring in the water for both the ecosystem and for harvesters.

Over the next four years, DFO scientists will update their stock assessments and managers will develop a new rebuilding plan. “We hope that today’s decision relieves some stress on this stock, and we look forward to working together at the table to develop long-term solutions that will benefit this and future generations,” says Schleit.

For more information, please contact:

Alex Tesar
Communications Manager
Oceans North
[email protected]