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Frequently Asked Questions

8. Q: How is herring caught and is it a sustainable resource?

A: The herring fishery in eastern North America employs mid-water trawlers and purse seiners, referred to as mobile gear, and stationary fixed gear netting known as weirs. Generally, purse seiners and weirs are the favoured fishing methods in Canada, while mid-water trawlers account for the larger proportion of the U.S. catch. Herring caught by seiners and trawlers are quickly chilled and sent to the cannery for processing.

Weirs are a traditional type of fishing equipment that are strategically placed in coves or along shorelines frequented by schools of herring. They are constructed by driving wooden poles into the seabed in a semi-circular pattern and hanging netting to the poles to corral the fish. Once fish enter the main holding area of the weir, they are trapped. The trapped fish are then taken by boat from the weir directly to the cannery where they are quickly processed to ensure the best possible quality. Weirs dot the coast of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia in the Bay of Fundy and are active from June to October.

The herring fishery is managed in Canada by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans with a licensing system and management plan involving a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) limit. In the United States, management of the fishery is the responsibility of regional fishery councils under the U.S. Federal Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. State legislation governs the fishery in inshore waters and is coordinated by the ASMFS under the U.S. Federal Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act. Fisheries management plans and associated rules and regulations developed by the NMFS and corresponding state agencies prescribe the terms on which parties may participate in the fishery.

Herring is an extremely prolific and fertile species and, depending on spawning conditions, is subject to inter-year variations that do not necessarily affect the long-term stability of the resource. Herring is currently considered to be an underutilized species. The Governments of Canada and the United States, with the participation of the fishing industry, work together to ensure that large and healthy stocks of herring will continue to remain a sustainable resource.

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1. Q: Are BRUNSWICK canned seafood products Kosher?

2. Q: Do BRUNSWICK canned seafood products contain any preservatives or glutens?

3. Q: Do BRUNSWICK canned seafood products contain MSG?

4. Q: Do BRUNSWICK Sardines and Seafood Snacks need to be refrigerated?

5. Q: Do I need to cook BRUNSWICK canned seafood products?

6. Q: Do you provide nutrition information for BRUNSWICK canned seafood products?

7. Q: How can I get my family to eat more fish?

8. Q: How is herring caught and is it a sustainable resource?

9. Q: I am on a salt-restricted diet. Can I still eat sardines?

10. Q: I am on a weight-loss diet. Can I eat sardines as part of that diet?

11. Q: I can’t find my favorite flavors of BRUNSWICK Sardines or Seafood Snacks. Where can I buy them?

12. Q: I have diabetes. Can I eat BRUNSWICK products?

13. Q: I have to watch my cholesterol. Can I still enjoy my BRUNSWICK Sardines and Seafood Snacks?

14. Q: Is the plastic film for BRUNSWICK Seafood Snacks recyclable?

15. Q: Should I be concerned about mercury in BRUNSWICK canned seafood products?

16. Q: What are Omega –3’s and why are they important?

17. Q: What are the nutritional benefits of eating BRUNSWICK Sardines and Seafood Snacks?

18. Q: What is a herring?

19. Q: What is a sardine?

20. Q: What is the best way to open a can of BRUNSWICK Sardines or Seafood Snacks?

21. Q: What is the difference between BRUNSWICK Kippered and Golden Smoked Seafood Snacks?

22. Q: What is the most popular way to eat sardines?

23. Q: What is the shelf life of BRUNSWICK canned seafood products?

24. Q: Why is some of the nutritional information on the packaging different from the information on the website?