Atlantic herring just need some respect.

These small fish are essential to the health of our oceans. But large industrial ships known as herring mid-water trawlers are removing more Atlantic herring from New England’s inshore areas than is sustainable.

The ships tow huge fishing nets as wide as a football fields through the ocean, indiscriminately killing everything in their path. They have even caught whales in their nets in the Gulf of Maine and on the Georges Bank. Anything they catch that they don't want is simply discarded, and often killed and destroyed in the process.

The irresponsible fishing practices of these large industrial ships are putting the long-term health of our ocean ecosystems and marine life at risk. The traditional feeding grounds for whales, dolphins, tuna and other marine life are under threat by the growing loss of Atlantic herring along the New England coastline.