Herring Harvesting OK’D for Fete: Martin County Fest Has Tight Limit

By Jerry Allegood, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C.

Feb. 23–CAROLINA BEACH — The state Marine Fisheries Commission on Thursday rejected Martin County’s request to lift a ban on river herring but allowed the harvest of a small amount for a traditional festival in Jamesville.

The commission, which manages commercial and recreational fishing, voted 4-3 to uphold a moratorium on harvesting the fish that have been decimated by overfishing, loss of habitat and poor water quality.

Martin County officials said a total ban would hurt restaurants that rely on the fish during a few months in the spring and would eliminate a tradition of eating herring during their spring run up the Roanoke River.

The fisheries commission authorized a catch of 7,500 pounds during a four-day period near Jamesville’s annual herring festival on the Monday after Easter. The catch would be designated as research, a commission spokeswoman said, but the fish would also be available for the festival.

C. Mort Hurst of Robersonville, a member of the Martin County Board of Commissioners, said there is no proof the moratorium helps the fish. And he said the limited catch will not help restaurants.

“It’s really the crumb off the bread,” he said.

Hurst said the county will continue efforts to have the legislature allow more fish to be caught. The county wanted a limited harvest of 100,000 pounds for commercial fishermen and 25 fish per day for recreational fishermen.

The Joint Legislative Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture had supported the county’s proposal.

Staff writer Jerry Allegood can be reached at (252) 752-8411 or jerrya@newsobserver.com.

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Copyright (c) 2007, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

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