NMFS Proposes Rule to Expand Scallop Dredge Exemption Areas

Summary

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is proposing modifications to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan to allow vessels with limited access general category individual fishing quota sea scallop permits to fish for scallops with small dredges in an expanded area, with the goal of providing consistency, flexibility, and potential economic benefits to the scallop fleet.