WASHINGTON (Saving Seafood) — May 8, 2013 — Today NOAA is announcing Atlantic sea scallop measures for 2013 that include tighter measures supported by the industry. The hallmark of the scallop fishery is extensive cooperative research conducted with fishermen and by scientists from both agency and independent universities and institutes. Unlike in many other northeastern fisheries, the industry has faith in this science, and is supportive of NOAA's regulations.
NOAA is approving new measures for the scallop fishery for the 2013 fishing year, including revised catch limits, adjustments to the time of year when scallop fishermen can fish in the Georges Bank scallop access areas, continuation of the current closures of the Elephant Trunk and Delmarva Access Areas to protect young scallops, refinements to the scallop fishery yellowtail flounder accountability measures, adjustments to the industry-funded observer program, and other changes that provide more flexibility for fishermen in the individual fishing quota program to transfer unused quota among vessels.
The scallop industry continues to support measures to protect young scallops and maximize future fishing potential. This will result in reduced quotas for 2013 and 2014 and the continued closure of two special access areas in the Mid-Atlantic.
Read the notice from the Federal Register