River Herring Management Information

 River Herring Annual Update

An Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Atlantic coastwide stock assessment update for river herring was completed in August 2024, with data through 2021. The North Carolina portion of the assessment includes the Albemarle Sound blueback herring stock only. The status of river herring in other parts of the state are currently listed as unknown due to the lack of data. The stock assessment update indicated the North Carolina Albemarle Sound stock was not experiencing overfishing but remains overfished. Factors leading to this status remain largely unchanged since the 2024 stock assessment. The spawning stock biomass remains below 40% of the amount necessary to replace itself in the complete absence of fishing.  For more information, contact Josh Winger at Josh.Winger@deq.nc.gov