April 20, 2024 — The following was released by New England Fishery Management Council:
The New England Fishery Management Council has narrowed the range of options to be further analyzed in a draft framework action to potentially allow scallop fishery access to the Northern Edge of Georges Bank. This potential access would occur inside the Habitat Management Area, which is currently off limits to scallop fishing.
During its April 16-18, 2024 meeting in Mystic, Connecticut, the Council reviewed extensive information related to four different “concept areas” initially developed for discussion. The Council then voted to remove Concept Area 1 and Concept Area 3 from the mix. The Council concluded that Areas 1 and 3 were inconsistent with the goal and objectives of the framework. The background information presented to the Council included:
- Historic distribution of scallops in the Northern Edge region, scallop biomass estimates within each concept area, and the size of each area;
- Dominant types of sediment in each area – sand, pebble, cobble, and/or boulder –to define high complexity bottom;
- Estimates of habitat disturbance from scallop fishing activity based on the Fishing Effects Model and estimates of
habitat recovery time under various fishing scenarios; and - Enforceability of concept area boundaries.
The Council also: (1) considered recommendations from its Scallop and Habitat Committees, Scallop and Habitat Advisory Panels, and Enforcement Committee; and (2) took into account the Scallop and Habitat Committees’ rationale for recommending removal of Concept Areas 1 and 3.