Department of Fish and Game

Herring Fishery

State-Managed California Commercial Herring Fishery

Considered one of the best state-managed fisheries in the country by the September 1999 issue of National Fisherman magazine, the commercial herring fishery is one of the few fisheries in California that undergo annual population assessments and subsequent regulatory change. Like other short-lived coastal pelagic species, Pacific herring abundance fluctuates widely due to variable recruitment (the success of each year-class of new fish), making annual population assessments necessary for effective management. This allows the Department and the Commission to integrate new information into management of the fishery on a timely basis, one of the cornerstones of its success. Conservative harvest levels, careful control of the fishery since the early 1970s, and input from industry and other constituents, have also contributed to the success of this fishery.

 

California Commercial Herring Fisheries Information

There are roe herring fisheries that are managed as separate stocks in four areas of California (San Francisco Bay, Tomales Bay, Humboldt Bay and Crescent City Harbor):

 

Regulations

 

Opportunities for Public Involvement and Input

The Pacific herring commercial regulations are updated every year. In addition, potential environmental impacts of the fishery are addressed each year in an environmental document, in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Both the regulatory and CEQA processes provide the public with several opportunities each year to provide input to the Department and the Commission on the management of California's Pacific herring resource. For more information on how to get involved, contact Senior Biologist Becky Ota at (650) 631-6789.

 

Summary Data, Articles and Additional Resources