Maine (March 21, 2016) — Maine fishing regulators are shutting down a host of areas where fishermen harvest the state’s valuable scallops.
The scalloping grounds will close for the year on Sunday. The scalloping season began in December and is scheduled to close for the year next month. The scallops tend to become more difficult to find in stores as the state closes down fishing areas.
The closing areas include the Inner Machias Area, Wohoa/Western Bay, Gouldsboro/Dyer Bay, Upper Blue Hill Bay/Union River, the Inner Jericho Bay Area and Eggemoggin Reach/Southeast Harbor Rotational Area. Casco Bay will be closed to dragging, but not diving for scallops.
Scallop-rich Cobscook Bay is also scheduled to full close for the year by March 25.
Maine scallops were worth about $5.75 million last year.