In 2025, the New England Fishery Management Council is undertaking a “visioning process” for the Atlantic scallop fishery. The goal of this visioning process is to help inform the development of a 3-5 year strategic plan for managing the scallop fishery.
The first meeting is Thursday February 27, 1-4PM at the Maine Fishermen’s Forum.
Atlantic scallops are one of the most valuable fisheries in the United States. Their habitat has historically spanned the eastern seaboard with the majority of scallops being caught on Georges Bank and the Mid-Atlantic.
While once the poster child of successful rebuilding and management, over the past few years the biomass of scallops has declined and there have been several NEFMC management actions which have failed to be completed. With a declining biomass, declining landings, and ultimately less stability in the fishery, the strategic plan developed after this visioning process will serve as a roadmap for addressing specific issues in the management of Atlantic scallops with the goal of aligning the scallop industry and the council within this work.
The visioning sessions are an opportunity for members the scallop fishing industry and others within the public to help identify important issues, opportunities, and concerns about the management and performance of the fishery early in the strategic planning process. The first of three public meetings will be held Thursday at the Maine Fishermen’s Forum.
If you are a Maine federal scallop fisherman, and you care about the future of this fishery, you should attend!
The Northern Gulf of Maine scallop fishery is not a new component of the fishery, but it is growing in size and importance. MCFA helped fight to protect access to the Northern Gulf of Maine for Maine’s boats, which was codified in January of 2022 through Amendment 21. Over the past decade, the biomass has grown ten-fold, the number of active participants has gone from a handful to over 140, and the number of permits (which in most limited-access fisheries is stable) has doubled. This means that some of the rules that were previously put in place may no longer fit what the fishery looks like today, and it also means that others are trying to increase their access into these important fishing grounds.
The small-boat fleet, those with General Category IFQ permits, Northern Gulf of Maine permits, or incidental permits, represent only a small portion of the landings within this fishery, and as such, they need to be engaged to ensure that previous gains are not lost.
If you are going to be attending the Thursday session at the forum, or would like to submit written comments, here are the questions that the Council is looking to get answered.
1. What is the current state of the scallop fishery?
2. Where do you want the fishery to be in 3-5 years?
3. What is your long-term vision for the fishery?
4. What are the challenges facing the scallop resource, the scallop fishery, and scallop habitat?
5. What does the Council need to do to achieve this vision?
What do you think about?
1. Fishing practices, such as high-grading and fishing in high density areas
2. Impacts from changing ocean conditions
3. Fleet capacity
4. Scallop resource enhancement
5. Scallop management in the Gulf of Maine / Northern Gulf of Maine
High-level talking points from MCFA:
The importance of long-term stable access to the Northern Gulf of Maine
The NGOM area is different, and the goals of stability and stewardship must continue to be prioritized.
Increased need for science in the NGOM
The need to create access for fishing outside of Stellwagen Bank
Use of access areas?
Create a different TAC for outside Stellwagen Bank
If you are concerned about permit growth, there is a control date that can be used to limit transfers of permits into the NGOM.
High-grading must be addressed across the entire fishery and all permit types.
Need to protect more sensitive inshore habitat throughout the fishery from high-intensity pulse fishing.
You may attend any of the visioning meetings above to provide oral comments, or you may submit written comments regarding your vision for the Atlantic sea scallop fishery by email: comments@nefmc.org with the subject “Atlantic Sea Scallop Long-Term Strategic Plan.”
MCFA staff are happy to help craft your letter if that is helpful.
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