April 5, 2012 – Beginning May 1, 2013, turtle deflector dredges (TDDs) must be used by all scallop vessels in the Mid-Atlantic. This revision of the Framework 23 scallop management is intended to keep sea turtles from becoming caught in dredge frames. The TDD must be used from May 1 through October 31 starting in 2013, and the entire season west of 71 degrees W. All scallop vessels must use the TDD except some vessels that have a Limited Access General Category (LAGC) permit.
Another addendum is the New Scallop Vessel Monitoring (VMS) Declaration Provision. Beginning May 7, 2012, scallop vessels will be able to make their scallop fishing trip declaration shoreward of the VMS Demarcation Line following a steam from a distant port, rather than being required to enter a designated port to make their trip declaration. This measure only applies to scallop vessels.
Also beginning May 7, 2012, federally permitted Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) permitted vessels may declare a state-waters only trip and not have those landings applied to the yearly Federal NGOM allocation. Finally, Framework 23 revises closure schedules to better target months with the highest yellowtail flounder catch rates.
Read the new Framework 23 notice.