The commercial herring fishery on the California coast will be closed for the first time in history in response to historically low population numbers.
The state Fish and Game Commission took emergency action Thursday to close the fishery, which is now under way and would normally continue until November.
The closure is expected to take effect in about 10 days, said Fish and Game Deputy Director Sonke Mastrup.
The commercial herring fishery inside San Francisco Bay, which occurs during winter, is also likely to be closed when the commission meets in September.
Environmental groups and the fishing industry both supported the closure, saying urgent action is needed.
Herring are a vital link in the bay and coastal food chain because they are prey for birds, mammals and larger fish.
"It's clear that the population is in extremely grave condition," said Santi Roberts, California project manager for the environmental group Oceana.
Fish and Game reported earlier this year that the bay herring population is at its lowest in 30 years – after a third straight year of declines.
It's not clear what has depressed the population. But the species has declined historically during drought.
Herring migrate from the ocean into the freshwater mixing zone of San Francisco Bay where they require low-salinity conditions to spawn.
This year, the herring population spawned near Point San Pablo, the farthest into the bay they have reached since 1976.
Early evidence also suggests pollution from the Cosco Busan oil spill in November 2007 may have harmed spawning that year, depressing the population that remains today.
"It's kind of like a perfect storm of issues, and everyone has looked at the circumstances and agreed we need to do something out of the ordinary to deal with it," said Mastrup.
A representative of the herring industry told the commission Thursday that the industry is not unanimous, but a majority supports the season closures.
California herring are a small fishery, but one of the last commercial species in San Francisco Bay.
The small fish are caught primarily for export to Japan. The state estimates direct economic impact from the closure at less than $1 million.
Numerous other bay and ocean fish species also are depressed, including salmon, smelt, sturgeon and bass.
It's unknown if the declines are related.
Commercial salmon fishing in California already has been closed for the second year in a row.
Call The Bee's Matt Weiser, (916) 321-1264.
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