Northern Windowpane Flounder Accountability Measure Area
Effective April 1, 2023
You are required to comply with the gear restrictions described below for fishing year 2023, April 1, 2023 through March 31, 2024. In fishing year 2021, the scallop fleet exceeded its sub-annual catch limit (ACL) for northern windowpane flounder by 398 percent.
Because the scallop fleet exceeded its northern windowpane flounder sub-ACL in fishing year 2021, the Georges Bank Accountability Measure Area will become a windowpane flounder gear restricted area April 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024. Dredge gear must meet the description below in the gear restricted area. In addition, vessels may not fish for scallops with trawl gear in the gear restricted area when the accountability measure is in effect.
Gear Restrictions
When a vessel is subject to this gear restricted area, the vessel will be required to fish with dredges as follows:
- The maximum number of rows of rings in the apron of the topside does not exceed five rows; and
- The maximum hanging ratio for a net on the top of a scallop dredge (twine top) does not exceed 1.5:1 overall.
 Dredge gear configuration required in the Georges Bank Accountability Measure Area for fishing year 2023. (Credit: Coonamessett Farm Foundation)
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