EMERGENCY CLOSURE NOTICE: Portland Harbor, Hussey Sound/Chandler Cove,Narraguagus/Pigeon Hill Bay & Chandler Bay
Maine Department of Marine Resources sent this bulletin at 12/29/2016 02:13 PM ESTHaving trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
Good afternoon,
This notice is to alert you that DMR will implement targeted closures for four (4) scallop fishing areas:
*PLEASE NOTE: hand harvest by scuba divers will be permitted in the Hussey Sound/Chandler Cove Area
Based on direct input from Marine Patrol and independent industry participants as well as observations made through the Department’s monitoring programs, the level of fishing effort in these areas during the fishing season has likely exceeded the 30% removal target that ensures the fishery continues to rebuild. In the Hussey Sound/Chandler Cove area, high concentrations of both seed and sublegal scallops were observed in the December 2, 2016 pre-season fishery independent DMR survey. Continued fishing threatens remaining broodstock scallops that are needed for successful spawning to rebuild the resource in these areas as well as sublegal product that will recruit up to the fishery for harvest in future years. While scallop populations are indicating signs of recovery in some areas of the state, the Department is concerned that unrestricted harvest during the remainder of the 2016-17 fishing season in these specific areas may damage sublegal scallops that could be caught during subsequent fishing seasons, as well as reducing the broodstock essential to a recovery. These immediate conservation closures are necessary to reduce the risk of unusual damage and imminent depletion. For these reasons, the Commissioner hereby adopts an emergency closure of Maine’s scallop fishery in Portland Harbor, Hussey Sound/Chandler Cove (hand harvest by scuba diving allowed), Narraguagus/Pigeon Hill Bay and Chandler Bay, as authorized by 12 M.R.S. §6171(3). In addition, there are a number of clarifications in this rulemaking which include:
- 11.05: Additional language was added to clarify the exact points of land that the Blue Hill Bay Drag Restriction pertains to;
- 11.08: A correction is needed to clarify that (1) Muscle Ridge is open to dragging on Mondays and Tuesdays in the opening paragraph of section 11.08, in addition to (10)(11)(12) & (13) being added;
- 11.09: A clarification that Limited Access Areas are open unless otherwise indicated in section 11.08, such as Sheepscot River and Muscongus Bay being clarified that they are in fact closed during the 2016-17 scallop season. In addition, a clarification was needed to change Southwest Harbor to Northeast Harbor for the southern boundary of the (5) Mount Desert Island Limited Access Area, and
- 11.12: A correction to the C Third Rotation (7) Lower Penobscot Bay & Outer Islands Rotational Area which removed the language referring to Little Green and Large Green Islands as they are actually in Zone 1, not Zone 2 and are therefore not subject to rotational management.
These closures will be effective on Sunday, January 1, 2017.
For more detailed information on the closures, please refer to the Emergency Rulemaking Document. Also, the charts for the closure areas as well as local area fishing charts have all been updated on the 2016-17 Scallop Season Summary page. Finally, the Augusta start/sunrise times are attached below as well.
Replying to this email will not reach me as the mail box is not monitored. Please contact me at 624-6554 or trisha.cheney@maine.gov. Thank you and have a delightful day.
Regards,
Trish