The Department of Fisheries and Oceans will keep conservation measures to protect fish stocks in the Yarmouth County gaspereau fishery.
In a series of tweets, DFO Maritimes says fishing will only be allowed from Friday at 8:00 a.m. to Monday at 8:00 a.m., adding the fishery will close on May 23 of this year, instead of May 31.
DFO is trying to protect two species from fishing pressure: alewife, which they say is in the critical zone and and blueback herring, which have declined significantly in recent years according to DFO.
They say closing the fishery early before blueback herring arrive in the Yarmouth County river systems will help to protect the species.
DFO says they will continue to monitor the presence of blueback herring during the season to decide if more action is needed.
They say alewife stocks saw an encouraging increase in 2021.
