Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery; 2019 Closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area to the Limited Access General Category Fishery

NOAA Fisheries announces the closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area for the remainder of the 2019 fishing year for Limited Access General Category vessels. Regulations require this action once we project that 100 percent of the Limited Access General Category total allowable catch for the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area will be harvested.This action is intended to prevent the overharvest of the 2019 total allowable catch allocated to the Limited Access General Category Fishery.

This rule becomes effective April 25, 2019.