NOAA Fisheries Announces Expansion to the Great South Channel and Southern New England Scallop Dredge Exemption Areas

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NOAA Fisheries - New England - Mid Atlantic Bulletin

January 14, 2020

NOAA Fisheries Announces Expansion to the Great South Channel and Southern New England Scallop Dredge Exemption Areas

Today, NOAA Fisheries filed a final rule to expand the Great South Channel and Southern New England Scallop Dredge Exemption Area as requested by the New England Fishery Management Council. The final rule expands the boundaries of the current Great South Channel and Southern New England Scallop Dredge Exemption Areas creating a single area south of 42° 20’ N lat. and east of the Mid-Atlantic Exemption Area. All other regulatory requirements, such as possession limits and the requirement to use dredge gear 10.5 ft or less, remain unchanged.

In addition, the rule implements new prelanding reporting requirements for limited access vessels sailing on an open area days-at-sea.  Limited access vessels are now required to send in a prelanding vessel monitoring system report on all scallop trips.

For more details, please read the rule as filed in the Federal Register, and our permit holder bulletin.

scallop expansion

Questions?

Fishermen: Contact Shannah Jaburek, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 978-282-8456

Media: Contact Allison Ferreira, Regional Office, 978-281-9103