Today in the Federal Register, NOAA published a final rule to make minor modifications to the chain-mat dredge gear requirements in certain areas of the Atlantic sea scallop fishery.
This final rule clarifies where on the dredge the chain mat must be hung, excludes the sweep from the requirement that the side of each opening in the chain mat be less than or equal to 14 inches (35.5 cm); and adds definitions of the sweep and the diamonds, which are terms used to describe parts of the scallop dredge gear.
This gear is intended to help reduce mortality and injury to endangered and threatened sea turtles captured in this fishery and to conserve sea turtles listed under the Endangered Species Act.
The rule (attached) is effective October 14, 2009.