The River Herring Avoidance Program Forecast (RHAPCAST) forecasts regions to maximize chances of encountering target species (Atlantic herring or Atlantic mackerel), while minimizing chances of encountering river herring bycatch. Forecasts are provided about one week in advance to help you plan. Look for a new forecast each Monday! The model uses historical presence-absence data from NMFS trawl surveys, historical environmnetal data, and forecasted sea surface temperature data to predict where we expect the relevant species to be distributed.
February 7, 2026 to February 13, 2026 Forecast to maximize Atlantic herring encounters while minimizing river herring encounters
The blue areas on the map show places where Atlantic herring are likely to be present and where river herring are predicted to be absent. The red and brown areas show places where river herring are predicted to be present or where Atlantic herring are predicted to be absent. We recommend going to the blue areas to maximize chances of encountering Atlantic herring and minimize risk of encountering river herring bycatch. Click on the map for more information on the exact encounter probability, and spatial coordinates can be found at the bottom left of the map. A grid cell is approximately 130 km2 (height ~ 9 km and width ~ 14 km). Please refer to state and federal regulations for any restrictions.
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Open Full MapFebruary 7, 2026 to February 13, 2026 Forecast to maximize Atlantic mackerel encounters while minimizing river herring encounters
The blue areas on the map show places where Atlantic mackerel are likely to be present and where river herring are predicted to be absent. The red and brown areas show places where river herring are predicted to be present or where Atlantic mackerel are predicted to be absent. We recommend going to the blue areas to maximize chances of encountering Atlantic mackerel and minimize risk of encountering river herring bycatch. Click on the map for more information on the exact encounter probability, and spatial coordinates can be found at the bottom left of the map. A grid cell is approximately 130 km2 (height ~ 9 km and width ~ 14 km). Please refer to state and federal regulations for any restrictions.
(Interactive map — zoom & explore!)
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Download background information of RHAP CAST models