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 2017, with data through 2015. The North Carolina portion of the assessment includes the Albemarle Sound blueback herring stock only. 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. The factors leading to this status remain largely unchanged since the 2012 stock assessment. The spawning stock biomass remains at 12% of the amount necessary to replace itself in the complete absence of fishing. Results from a new ASMFC benchmark coastwide stock assessment are expected this summer.