Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Framework Adjustment 39 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

NMFS approves and implements Framework Adjustment 39 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan that establishes specifications and other management measures for fishing years 2025 and 2026, including fishing effort allocation into access areas, modifying when areas open to optimize yield and minimize bycatch, and closures to protect juvenile scallops. Vessels with a limited access general category B permit may transit outside of the Northern Gulf of Maine with scallops onboard. Research set-aside program regulations are clarified. This action is necessary to prevent overfishing and improve resource yield-per-recruit and management of the fishery.

Effective on April 21, 2025.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) for this action that describes the approved measures in Framework 39 and other considered alternatives and analyzes the impacts of the approved measures and alternatives. Copies of Framework 39, the EA, the initial regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA), and information on the economic impacts of this rulemaking are available upon request from Dr. Cate O'Keefe, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Newburyport, MA 01950 and accessible via the internet in documents available at: https://www.nefmc.org/​library/​scallop-framework-39.