June 22, 2017 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:
The New England Fishery Management Council took several actions related to Atlantic sea scallops during its June 20-21 meeting in Portland, ME. In summary, the Council:
- Approved the Limited Access General Category (LAGC) Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program Review for fishing years 2010-2015;
- Approved priorities for the 2018-2019 Scallop Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program;
- Voted against establishing a control date to address movement between LAGC Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) permits and LAGC incidental permits; and
- Voted to request the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Regional Administrator use his authority to “expand the Great South Channel scallop dredge exemption area to encompass all or part of the Georges Bank regulated mesh area, not including habitat closed areas or year round closed areas except when allowed under the Scallop Access Area Program.”
The Council also received a progress report on Framework Adjustment 29 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP), which will include: (1) fishery specifications for the 2018 fishing year and default specifications for 2019; (2) flatfish accountability measures for the scallop fishery; (3) NGOM Management Area modifications; and, potentially (4) modifications to scallop access areas, consistent with pending habitat area revisions.
The Council’s Scallop Plan Development Team, Scallop Committee, and Scallop Advisory Panel will work on these Framework 29 measures through the fall using 2017 survey results and updated scallop biomass estimates. Final action is scheduled for December.