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Council rescinds authorization to take alewives and blueback herring after state says fishery not approved
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Summary
South Berwick rescinded a prior authorization for a 2025 river-herring harvest after the Maine Department of Marine Resources notified the town that the Salmon Falls River herring population had not been deemed sustainable and neither recreational nor commercial harvest was approved for 2025.
The South Berwick Town Council voted unanimously April 22 to rescind a March authorization to take alewives and blueback herring from the Salmon Falls River after the Maine Department of Marine Resources informed the town the river herring fishery had not been approved by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission for 2025.
Staff told the council the DMR letter dated April 7 said "because river herring in the Salmon Falls River has not been determined to have achieved a sustainable population size" the recreational and commercial river herring fisheries are closed for 2025. The council then moved to rescind the earlier authorization and voted 4-0 in favor.
Councilors said the rescission was necessary to avoid enforcement issues and to ensure the town was complying with state and regional fishery management decisions. The town plans to post signage and notify constituents who had been informed of the earlier authorization.
No additional action was taken other than rescinding the prior permission; staff said they would follow up with state contacts and post public notice.
