EMERGENCY CLOSURE NOTICE: Casco Passage, Johnson Bay & Eastport Breakwater
Maine Department of Marine Resources sent this bulletin at 01/19/2018 04:38 PM ESTHaving trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
Good afternoon,
Please be aware that DMR will implement targeted closures for two (2) scallop fishing areas, effective January 21, 2018:
- Casco Passage in Swan's Island Rotational Area (Zone 2)
- Johnson Bay & Eastport Breakwater in Cobscook Bay (Zone 3)
Patrol observations, along with industry reports, have confirmed that harvesting within Casco Passage, in the northwest corner of the Swan's Island Rotational Area, can no longer achieve daily limits. Additionally, the spring survey conducted by DMR science staff indicated good levels of seed resource within this area. This closure has been implemented to preserve the remaining resource as broodstock and to protect the juvenile scallops for future seasons.
Survey results from DMR's Scallop Survey conducted by staff during the weekend of January 11th indicate the target removal of 30% has been exceeded in the Johnson Bay and Eastport Breakwater portion of Cobcook Bay. Again, this closure has been implemented to preserve the remaining resource as broodstock and to protect the juvenile scallops for future seasons.
The Scallop Management Area Map has been updated to reflect these closures. To view closures, zoom into the local area.
The notice of emergency rulemaking has been posted to DMR's website, and also included below:
NOTICE OF AGENCY EMERGENCY RULE-MAKING
AGENCY: Department of Marine Resources
CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE: Chapter 11 Scallops, Targeted Closures: (12) Casco Passage (Swan’s Island); (13) Johnson Bay (Cobscook Bay)
CONCISE SUMMARY: The Commissioner adopts this emergency rulemaking for the implementation of targeted conservation closures located in Johnson Bay, inside Cobscook Bay area and Casco Passage of the Swan’s Island Rotational Area to protect Maine’s scallop resource due to the risk of unusual damage and imminent depletion. The Department is concerned that continued harvesting for the duration of the 2017-18 fishing season in these areas will remove any remaining broodstock as well as negatively impact seed scallop resource that is essential to the ongoing recruitment, regrowth and recovery of the scallop resource in these areas. An immediate conservation closure is necessary to reduce the risk of unusual damage and imminent depletion of the scallop resource in both the Johnson Bay and Casco Passage areas. For these reasons, the Commissioner hereby adopts an emergency closure of Maine’s scallop fishery in these areas as authorized by 12 M.R.S. §6171(3)(A).
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 21, 2018
Please do not reply to this email; the mail box is not monitored. For more information, I can be reached at Melissa.Smith@maine.gov or 624-6558. Thank you!