Sorry to be a downer, but here is my spin:
Chris-The decision to open fishing depends if large corporations who own most of the fish farms,herring liscences,boats, processing plants and the current governments, feel like fishing.
20% of the yearly biomass is DFO's target.The track record for DFO to come up with any accurate count on anything speaks for itself. With the efficiancy and capacity of the current killing machines,an extra half an hour in an opening can be catastrophic.
I'am no marine biologist, but I believe the reason for the reduced size of the herring is the larger brood stock are decimated every year.
Remember that only 50% produce eggs,take the eggs away and you have all the fish feed and dog food you need.
The economic spin off filters down to a privilaged few,for a couple of weeks.
We are going to have a hard time explaining this one to the grandchildren.
This of course is only my opinion, and if anyone feels this is innacurate,please let me know.
Klob