January 10, 2018 — SEAFOOD NEWS — NMFS has given formal approval to the New England Council’s Fish habitat amendment that makes major changes in rules regarding closed areas in New England.
The most immediate impact is on scallops, where NMFS approved the opening of closed area 1 and the Nantucket Lightship area. The concept here was that an abundance of scallops in these areas would lead to rapid harvesting, and a lower swept area by scallop dredges than if vessels were trying to gain their allocations outside the closed areas.
Also research has shown that these were not significant areas for fish spawning. The approval means that the options for scallop harvest will be at the maximum level considered by the council, which projects about 60 million pounds of scallop landings for the 2018-19 season.
NMFS rejected the opening of closed area II on Georges Bank, which is also a major scallop producer.
Overall, full time license holders will get a total of 6 closed area trips of 18,000 lbs each, along with 24 days at sea in the open areas.
The habitat framework is the most far reaching adjustments of closed areas in 20 years, and it will provide better protection for both fish and habitat while eliminating closures that no longer serve their intended purpose.
The major change that was not allowed by NMFS was the opening of Eastern Georges Bank, called closed area II. This is the so called Northern Edge, which historically was one of the most abundant scallop producing areas. NMFS is keeping it closed to protect habitat.
Council Executive Director Tom Nies said, “Naturally we’re disappointed that our proposed Closed Area II changes were not approved, but the fact that the vast majority of the amendment will be implemented is a solid endorsement of the work the Council and staff did to dramatically change the closure system off New England.”
The habitat framework also establishes a series of seasonal cod spawning closures to all gear, both recreational and commercial; and it also sets a number of areas where bottom trawl gear is prohibited, but the council makes distinctions in many areas that will allow use of gillnets and lobster gear, as well as scallop and clam dredging.
This story originally appeared on Seafoodnews.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.