March 31, 2026 — The Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) scallop fleet is set to get back to work April 1, but as fishermen prepare for the final stretch of the spring season, they’re doing so under a significantly smaller quota than last year.
Under NOAA Fisheries Framework Adjustment 20, total allowable landings (TAL) for the 2026 fishing year are set at 484,753 pounds – down from 675,563 pounds in 2025, when the fishery reopened April 21 under Framework 39.
After deductions to support research and observer coverage, the usable NGOM set-aside for 2026 comes in at 437,867 pounds, according to a March 27 NOAA Fisheries bulletin. The agency notes it will “closely monitor” landings and close the fishery once the set-aside is reached.
Despite the lower quota, the structure of the fishery remains familiar. Vessels are still limited to 200 pounds of shelled scallop meat per trip, with the opportunity to land up to 325 pounds on a trip with an observer through a 125-pound observer compensation credit.