2021-2022 Scallop Season - Online Materials Available
Maine Department of Marine Resources sent this bulletin at 11/03/2021 10:53 AM EDTHaving trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
Good morning,
The DMR Advisory Council has reviewed and approved the proposed rulemaking for Chapter 11 Scallops, setting the 2021-2022 season. The newly adopted regulation is available on our website.
The 2021-2022 Scallop season page is active! It contains the following downloadable documents:
- 2021-2022 Drag Calendars (see attached)
- 2021-2022 Dive Calendars (see attached)
- Individual charts for printing of all Zones
The online Scallop Management Areas Map has been updated! Click refresh to update your bookmark.
The calendar pdfs (attached links below) also include the Augusta sunrise tables for the duration of the scallop season as a quick reference.
For questions on scallop management, contact Melissa.Smith@maine.gov @ 207.441.5040. Also, scallop questions may be directed to your local patrol officers; Patrol Division Lts (633-9595 for Division 1, or 664-2392 for Division 2).
For questions on scallop science, surveys, etc., contact Amber Lisi. Email: Amber.Lisi@maine.gov or Phone: 207.350.6004.
CONCISE SUMMARY:
This rule-making establishes the 2021-2022 scallop fishing season. Daily possession limits of 15 gallons for Zone 1 and Zone 2, and 10 gallons for Zone 3 remain unchanged. For Zone 1, a 60-day season for draggers begins on December 6, 2021 and the last day of the season is March 17, 2022. For Zone 1, a 60-day season for divers starts on November 16, 2021 and the last day of the season is April 29, 2022. For Zone 2, a 70-day season for draggers starts on December 1, 2021 and the last day of the season is March 31, 2022. For Zone 2, a 70-day season for divers starts on November 19, 2021 and the last day of the season is March 26, 2022. For Zone 3, a 50-day season for draggers begins on December 1, 2021 and the last day of the season is March 28, 2022. For Zone 3, a 50-day season for divers begins on December 2, 2021 and the last day of the season is March 26, 2022.
New limited access areas for the 2021-2022 season: Western Casco Bay and Sheepscot River in Zone 1; and, Gouldsboro/Dyers Bay and West Moosabec Reach in Zone 2. Targeted seed closures are re-established in Eastern Casco Bay and Damariscotta River in Zone 1. In Zone 3, St. Croix River is established as a new targeted seed closure. In Zone 2, territorial waters surrounding Machias Seal Island and North Rock are open to harvest all days beginning December 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022.
A new mooring closure is implemented for Sullivan Harbor. The Limited entry system is updated to allow entry to either the scallop dragging license lottery or the scallop hand harvest lottery but individuals may not enter both lotteries.
DMR is maintaining the following Limited Access Areas: Western Penobscot Bay, Muscle Ridge, Whiting and Denny’s Bays. Additionally, the following existing targeted closures based on depletion, high concentrations of seed/sublegal scallops and/or the presence of spat-producing scallops are maintained: Lower Muscle Ridge, Back River, New Meadows River, Card Cove and Beals-Jonesport Bridge.
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