The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) announced that it received updates on Framework Adjustment 39 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan, which will set the specs for the 2025 scallop fishing season.
At its September meeting in Gloucester, Massachusetts, the council received an overview of the 2024 Atlantic sea scallop survey in addition to the Framework 39 updates.
Results from the 2024 scallop survey indicated that the species’ overall biomass remained low compared to its peak of 2016-2019. The population of harvestable scallops in 2025 is expected to remain low as well, which could lead to reduced allocations to the fishery.
The NEFMC said that recruitment showed positive signs, such as additional signs of seed and juvenile scallops, which could lead to better days for the fishery in the coming years.