WASHINGTON (Saving Seafood) — August 7, 2015 — A new “story map” created by NOAA Fisheries’ Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO) overviews the 2015 Atlantic sea scallop fishery regulations based on Framework 26 from as far north as Georges Bank in New England down to the Mid-Atlantic Coast. Implemented as of May 2015, these scallop fishery areas include open access areas, rotational closed areas, seasonal areas reserved for turtle conservation, transit declarations for ports, and gear modifications.
The story map gives viewers, “a quick tour of the regulations for the Scallop fishery as of May 2015,” and interactive features allow users to zoom in on areas of the map for more details on specific area closures. The map and accompanying website also provide information about gear restrictions, information for vessels operating Days-at-Sea trips, and the protocol fishermen need to follow after crossing Vessel Monitoring System Demarcation Lines. The map is color-coded and includes downloadable GIS shapefiles from all Greater Atlantic Region regulated areas, as well as links to specific management measures through an Electronic Code of Federal Regulations website.
View the interactive story map from NOAA Fisheries
Learn more about Atlantic Sea Scallops on NOAA Fisheries’ webpage