EMERGENCY CLOSURE NOTICE: Cobscook, Whiting & Dennys Bays
Maine Department of Marine Resources sent this bulletin at 02/14/2020 04:22 PM ESTHaving trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
Good afternoon,
Please be aware that DMR will implement emergency conservation closure(s) in the area(s) below, effective February 16, 2020:
- Cobscook, Whiting & Dennys Bays of Zone 3
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 will be 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 11.08, Targeted Closures: (13) Cobscook, Whiting & Dennys Bays
CONCISE SUMMARY:
The Commissioner adopts this emergency rulemaking to establish scallop conservation closures for Cobscook, Whiting and Dennys Bays, all within Zone 3. The Department is concerned that continued harvesting for the remainder of the 2019-2020 fishing season in these areas will impact the abundant sublegal scallop resource, as well as lower the existing scallop broodstock further, observed in the 2019 Fall Scallop survey that is essential to the ongoing recruitment, regrowth and recovery of the scallop resource that supports an annual fishery. An immediate conservation closure is necessary to reduce the risk of unusual damage and imminent depletion of the scallop resource in these Zone 3 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: February 16, 2020
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!