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Figure 1 



Regional map of the Mid-Atlantic. New England, and Canada area showing states, the providence of 

 Nova Scotia, offshore place names, and the 100-m depth contour 



Shoals region during 1979-84 (Lough et al., 1985; Smith 

 and Morse, 1993). 



Presently pelagic fishes such as Atlantic herring and 

 mackerel (Scomber scombrus) have recovered to historic 

 high abundances (Clark, 1998). Atlantic herring have re- 

 covered to pre- 1960s biomass and abundance and are now 

 becoming the subject of renewed interest by fleets from 

 the United States and Canada (Clark, 1998; NEFSC-). 

 During a recent survey (spring 1999), herring were caught 

 in 47% of the standardized tows and represented one of 

 the top five species in terms of abundance and biomass 

 (NEFSC3). 



2 NEFSC (Northeast Fisheries Science Center). 1998. Atlantic 

 herring: report of the 27"' Northeast regional stock assessment 

 workshop (27"' SAW). Stock Assessment Review Committee 

 (SARC) consensus summary of assessments, 27 p. Northeast 

 Fisheries Science Center, Woods Hole, MA 02.543. 



The presence and increase of spawning fish and lar- 

 vae in historically important areas of Nantucket Shoals 

 (Great South Channel area), Georges Bank, and along the 

 coast of Maine have been documented ((Zinkevich, 1967; 

 Stephenson and Kornfield, 1990; Smith and Morse, 1993; 

 Stevenson'*). 



The purpose of this paper is to describe the magnitude 

 of the decline and recovery of the herring complex in the 

 Gulf of Maine-Georges Bank region and the chronology of 



'■> NEFSC (Northeast Fisheries Science Center). 1999. Fisher- 

 man's report: bottom trawl survey. Woods Hole Laboratory, 

 National Marine Fisheries Service, March 1-April 22, 1999, 20 

 p. Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Woods Hole, MA 02543. 



■* Stevensen, D. K. 1989. Spawning locations and times for Atlan- 

 tic herring on the Maine Coast. Maine Department of Marine 

 Resources Research Reference Document 89/5, 24 p. Maine 

 Department of Marine Resources, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04575. 



