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NOAA Fisheries is announcing a public comment period on a proposed rule to set specifications and management measures for the Atlantic Sea Scallop fishery for the 2025 fishing year (April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026) that would result in projected landings of 18 million pounds. We will be accepting public comment on this proposed rule through April 2, 2025 through our online portal.
Framework 39 would also:
- Allocate effort into two rotational access areas (Area II and Area I);
- Modify the timing of the existing seasonal closure in Area II to reduce bycatch of Georges Bank yellowtail flounder and northern windowpane flounder;
- Delay the opening of access areas, from April 1 to May 15, to optimize scallop yield;
- Close areas (Nantucket Lightship and Elephant Trunk) to scallop fishing to protect small scallops; and
- Correct an error, consistent with section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, to clarify that trips harvesting research set-aside pounds are not allowed to also harvest commercial pounds.
This action is deregulatory as it would relieve restrictions on the scallop fishery. Relative to the default measures that will go into effect without government action, Framework 39 provides an increase in projected scallop revenues of $180.8 million. The deregulatory actions NOAA Fisheries implements are critical to providing regulatory flexibility and reducing burden on the American people.
We work in partnership with the New England Fishery Management Council to manage the Atlantic scallop fishery to meet conservation objectives, use the best available scientific information, and provide sustainable levels of access to the fishery.
For more information read the proposed rule as published in the Federal Register.
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