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Atlantic Sea Scallop Management Plan

New England

About

The Atlantic sea scallop is one of the most valuable fisheries in the United States. The primary range for the Atlantic sea scallop fishery is along the Atlantic coast from the Mid-Atlantic to the United States/Canada border. The scallop fishery uses predominantly paired or single scallop dredges throughout the entire range of the fishery. To a lesser extent, and mainly in the Mid-Atlantic region, the scallop fishery uses trawl gear. Most vessels land Atlantic sea scallops as shucked meats (the adductor muscle) but some vessels also land whole (in-shell) scallops.

Implementing regulations are found at 50 CFR Part 648 Subpart D.

Get more information on New England/Mid-Atlantic fisheries.

Species Managed

More Information

Actions

Under Development Implemented Actions

Proposed Rule for Southern New England Habitat Area of Particular Concern

NOAA is requesting comment on Proposed Rule for Southern New England Habitat Area of Particular Concern
Proposed Rule
,
New England
Mid-Atlantic
Published
09/26/2023

Proposed Rule; Request for Comments; Northern Gulf of Maine Measures in Framework Adjustment 29 to Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan

We propose some of the measures included in Framework Adjustment 29 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan that establish scallop specifications and other measures for the Northern Gulf of Maine scallop management area
Proposed Rule
,
New England
Mid-Atlantic
Effective
03/07/2018

Framework Adjustment 38 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan

Framework 38 establishes scallop specifications and other measures for fishing years 2024 and 2025, including changes to the catch, effort, and quota allocations and adjustments to the rotational area management program.
Final Rule
,
New England
Mid-Atlantic
Published
03/22/2024

Framework Adjustment 36 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan

Framework 36 would set scallop fishery specifications and other management measures for fishing years 2023 and 2024. Framework 36 would implement measures to protect small scallops and revise regulatory text.
Final Rule
,
New England
Mid-Atlantic
Effective
04/01/2023

Closure of the 2022 Closed Area I Scallop Access Area for the Limited Access General Category Individual Fishing Quota Fleet

The Closed Area I Scallop Access Area is closed to Limited Access General Category Individual Fishing Quota scallop vessels effective 0001 hours, on January 14, 2023, and will remain closed for the remainder of the fishing year.
Temporary Rule
,
New England
Mid-Atlantic
Effective
01/14/2023

2022 Closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area for Limited Access General Category Vessels

2022 Closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area for Limited Access General Category Vessels
Temporary Rule
,
New England
Mid-Atlantic
Effective
05/26/2022

Amendment 21 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan

NOAA Fisheries approves and implements through regulations measures included in Amendment 21 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan.
Final Rule
,
New England
Mid-Atlantic
Effective
04/01/2022

Framework Adjustment 34 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan

Framework 34 set scallop fishery specifications for fishing year 2022, including days-at-sea, individual fishing quota, sea scallop access area trips, and Northern Gulf of Maine allocations.
Final Rule
,
New England
Mid-Atlantic
Published
03/30/2022

2021 Closure of the Closed Area I Scallop Access Area for the Limited Access General Category Individual Fishing Quota Fleet

The Closed Area I Scallop Access Area is closed to Limited Access General Category Individual Fishing Quota scallop vessels effective 0001 hours, on September 17, 2021, and will remain closed for the remainder of the fishing year.
Temporary Rule
Effective
09/17/2021

Framework Adjustment 33 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan

Framework 33 sets management measures for the scallop fishery for 2021, including the annual catch limits for the limited access and limited access general category fleets, as well as days-at-sea allocations and sea scallop access area trip allocations.
Interim Rule
,
New England
Mid-Atlantic
Issued
05/19/2021

Closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area for Limited Access General Category Vessels

NOAA Fisheries announces the closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area for the remainder of the 2021 fishing year for Limited Access General Category vessels.
Temporary Rule
,
New England
Mid-Atlantic
Effective
05/06/2021

2020 Closure of the Closed Area I Access Area to the Limited Access General Category Individual Fishing Quota Fishery

The Closed Area I Access Area is closed to all Limited Access General Category Individual Fishing Quota scallop vessels effective 0001 hours on September 13, 2020, and will remain closed for the remainder of the fishing year.
Temporary Rule
,
New England
Mid-Atlantic
Effective
09/13/2020

2020 Closure of the Mid-Atlantic Access Area to the Limited Access General Category Individual Fishing Quota Fishery

The Mid-Atlantic Access Area is closed to all Limited Access General Category Individual Fishing Quota scallop vessels effective 0001 hours on July 19, 2020, and will remain closed for the remainder of the fishing year.
Temporary Rule
,
New England
Mid-Atlantic
Effective
07/19/2020

Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery; Emergency Action to Extend Portions of the Fishing Year 2019 Scallop Carryover Provisions

NOAA Fisheries approves and implements and emergency rule to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan that extends portions of the fishing y ear 2019 carryover provisions.
Temporary Rule
,
New England
Mid-Atlantic
Effective
06/01/2020

2020 Closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area to the Limited Access General Category Fishery

The Northern Gulf of Maine Management Area is closed to all Limited Access General Category scallop vessels effective 0001 hours on May 23, 2020, and will remain closed for the remainder of the fishing year.
Temporary Rule
,
New England
Effective
05/23/2020

Framework Adjustment 32 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan

Approves and implements Framework Adjustment 32 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan that establishes scallop specifications and other measures for fishing years 2020 and 2021.
Final Rule
,
New England
Mid-Atlantic
Effective
04/01/2020

Closure of the Mid-Atlantic Scallop Access Area to General Category Individual Fishing Quota Scallop Vessels

NOAA Fisheries announces that the Mid-Atlantic Scallop Access Area is closed to Limited Access General Category Individual Fishing Quota scallop vessels for the remainder of the 2019 fishing year. No vessel issued a Limited Access General Category Individ
Temporary Rule
,
Mid-Atlantic
Effective
10/02/2019

Closure of the Closed Area I Scallop Access Area to General Category Individual Fishing Quota Scallop Vessels

The Closed Area I Scallop Access Area is closed to Limited Access General Category Individual Fishing Quota scallop vessels effective 0001 hours on June 23, 2019, and will remain closed to Limited Access General Category Individual Fishing
Temporary Rule
,
New England
Mid-Atlantic
Effective
06/23/2019

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.
Temporary Rule
,
New England
Mid-Atlantic
Effective
04/25/2019

Framework Adjustment 30 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan

NOAA Fisheries approves and implements the measures of Framework Adjustment 30 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan that establish scallop specifications and other measures for fishing years 2019 and 2020.
Final Rule
,
New England
Mid-Atlantic
Effective
04/01/2019

Adjustment of Georges Bank and Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic Yellowtail Flounder Annual Catch Limits

This action transfers unused quota of Georges Bank and Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic yellowtail flounder from the Atlantic scallop fishery to the Northeast multispecies fishery for the remainder of the 2018 fishing year. This quota transfer is authori
Temporary Rule
,
New England
Mid-Atlantic
Effective
03/21/2019

Closure of the Mid-Atlantic Scallop Access Area to General Category Individual Fishing Quota Scallop Vessels

NOAA Fisheries announces that the Mid-Atlantic Scallop Access Area is closed to Limited Access General Category Individual Fishing Quota scallop vessels for the remainder of the 2018 fishing year (though March 31,2019). No vessel issued a Limited Access
Temporary Rule
,
New England
Effective
12/24/2018

Final Action to Close Nantucket Lightship and Closed Area I Closure Areas to Gillnet Gear

NOAA Fisheries closes Nantucket Lightship and Closed Area I Closure Areas to gillnet gear.
Final Rule
,
New England
Mid-Atlantic
Effective
12/17/2018

Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat Amendment 2

This action implements approved regulations for the New England Fishery Management Council's Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat Amendment 2. This rule revises essential fish habitat and habitat area of particular concern designations, revises or creates habit
Final Rule
,
New England
Mid-Atlantic
Effective
04/09/2018

Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northern Gulf of Maine Measures in Framework Adjustment 29 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management

We approve and implement those measures included in Framework Adjustment 29 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan that establish fishing year 2018 and 2019 scallop specifications and other measures for the Northern Gulf of Maine sca
Final Rule
Effective
04/01/2018

Last updated by Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office on 01/03/2023