As we reported on the Exception in August of 2010, NOAA has been studying the migration habits of fish species such as the alewife and blueback herring in Maine.

Fast forward to August 2011, and the Natural Resources Defense Council submitted a petition asking the agency to consider adding river herring Endangered Species Act list.

Today, NOAA has decided that NRDC's petition "presents enough scientific and commercial information to merit further review."

Both the alewife and blueback herring are managed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, an organization created by Eastern seaboard states in 1942 because "fish do not adhere to political boundaries."

"The status of river herring is important to the Commission and our member states,” said Vince O’Shea, Executive Director, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. “We are pleased that the results of our efforts to assess the stock can be used by NOAA to inform its species status review."

NOAA can either kill the petition or approve the listing. If approved, the public would have an opportunity to comment.

Image via NOAA.