March 17, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA:
Today, NOAA Fisheries published the proposed rule to set management measures for the Atlantic Sea Scallop fishery for the 2015 fishing year.
Framework 26:
– Sets annual catch limits for both the limited access and limited access general category fleets,
– Sets days at sea and allocations for the sea scallop access area,
– Closes a portion of the Elephant Trunk access area,
– Closes the Georges Bank access areas,
– Adjusts the State Waters Exemption Program,
– Aligns two gear measures designed to protect sea turtles, and
– Implements other measures to improve the management of the scallop fishery and reduce bycatch of flatfish.
Read the complete proposed rule as pubished in the Federal Register. NOAA Fisheries will be accepting public comment on this proposed rule through April 1, 2015, which you can submit online or by mail to:
John K. Bullard, Regional Administrator
NMFS, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office
55 Great Republic Drive
Gloucester, MA 01930.
Mark the outside of the envelope: "Comments on Scallop Framework 26 Proposed Rule."
Questions? Contact Jennifer Goebel, Regional Office, at 978-281-9175 or Jennifer.Goebel@noaa.gov.