April 18, 2017 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:
During its mid-April meeting in Mystic, CT, the New England Fishery Management Council initiated Framework Adjustment 29 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan. The framework will address four “2017 scallop management priorities” identified last fall. These include:
- Fishery specifications for the 2018 scallop fishing year and default specifications for 2019;
- Flatfish accountability measures for scallopers;
- Scallop access area modifications to be consistent with pending habitat area revisions; and
- Measures for the Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) Management Area.
While specifications and AM adjustments are required to be in the framework, the following problem statement explains the reason for the NGOM measures:
“Recent high landings and unknown biomass in the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area underscore the critical need to initiate surveys and develop additional tools to better manage the area and fully understand total removals.”
Framework 29 may consider limiting vessels from fishing in the NGOM until biomass is more accurately determined and management measures can ensure sustainable harvest for all permit categories.