Atlantic herring fishing limits set for 2026, with new caps on accidental catch

US regulators have finalized the fishing limits for Atlantic herring for 2026. This includes new caps on how many river herring and shad can be caught by accident.

Fishing limits are set annually, but the caps on accidental catch are a key lever for protecting other species. These caps mean that if too many river herring or shad are caught, the entire Atlantic herring fishery can be shut down early. This forces fishing operations to change their gear or fishing locations to avoid these protected species.