Closure of Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Area to Limited Access Vessels in 2026
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
The rule closes the Northern Gulf of Maine for scallop fishing to federally permitted Limited Access General Category vessels starting April 13, 2026. This closure aims to prevent overfishing as the area is projected to reach its scallop harvest limits, affecting vessels relying on this region for their catch.
AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.
Key Changes
- Closure of Northern Gulf of Maine to scallop vessels with federal Limited Access permits
- Vessels must hold Maine or Massachusetts state permits to continue fishing in state waters
- Closure aims to prevent overharvest of scallops
Obligations
What this law requires
Federally permitted Limited Access General Category (LAGC) scallop vessels must cease fishing for, possessing, or landing scallops in or from the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area starting April 13, 2026 at 0001 hours local time
LAGC scallop vessels may only continue fishing in the Northern Gulf of Maine after April 13, 2026 if they possess a valid state scallop permit (Maine or Massachusetts) and fish exclusively in that respective state's waters under the State Waters Exemption Program
LAGC scallop vessels that declared into the Northern Gulf of Maine, complied with trip notification and observer requirements, and crossed the vessel monitoring system demarcation line before April 13, 2026 at 0001 hours may complete that trip and land scallops
The National Marine Fisheries Service must maintain closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area to all federally permitted LAGC scallop vessels from April 13, 2026 through March 31, 2027
Vessels must comply with all trip notification requirements and observer requirements to qualify for the exception allowing completion of trips begun before the closure effective date