September 30, 2019 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:
During its late-September meeting in Gloucester, MA, the New England Fishery Management Council received a presentation on 2019 scallop survey results and a progress report on the alternatives that are under development for Framework Adjustment 32 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan. The framework contains: (1) specifications for the 2020 fishing year; (2) default specifications for 2021; and (3) measures to mitigate impacts on Georges Bank yellowtail flounder. The 2019 surveys found noteworthy recruitment in the southern portion of Closed Area II and, to a lesser extent, directly south and to the west in areas known as the Closed Area II Extension and Southern Flank. The map above shows aggregations of small scallops with shell heights of less than 60 millimeters (mm).
Six institutions were involved in five different surveys in 2019 that collectively covered the range of the resource. Here are the key take-aways from the survey results.