Effective Date: March 23, 2017

The Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) Scallop Management Area is closed to all federally permitted scallop vessels effective 0001 hr, on March 23, 2017, except as noted below.  As of March 23, 2017, no scallop vessel fishing under Federal scallop regulations may fish for, possess, or land scallops in or from the NGOM Scallop Management Area.  The scallop regulations require that we close this area once we project that 100 percent of the 2017 default total allowable catch for this area will be taken.

Vessels that have declared a trip into the NGOM Scallop Management Area using the correct Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) code, and have crossed the VMS demarcation line before 0001 hr, March 23, 2017, may complete their trip and retain and land scallops caught from the NGOM Scallop Management Area. 

All limited access scallop vessels fishing on a day-at-sea must exit the NGOM Scallop Management Area before 0001 hr, March 23, 2017.

Exemption for Maine Vessels Fishing Exclusively in Maine State Waters

For small entity compliance guides, this bulletin complies with section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement and Fairness Act of 1996.  This notice is authorized by the Regional Administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service, Greater Atlantic Region.