The Atlantic sea scallop fishery is healthy fishery, and one of the largest revenue producers in the Greater Atlantic Region.
Atlantic Sea Scallop
Placopecten magellanicus
Also Known As
Scallop, Sea scallop, Giant scallop
Quick Facts
Region
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Dense beds of small scallops photographed on the ocean floor in the Mid-Atlantic in 2015. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
Dense beds of small scallops photographed on the ocean floor in the Mid-Atlantic in 2015. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
About the Species
Dense beds of small scallops photographed on the ocean floor in the Mid-Atlantic in 2015. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
Dense beds of small scallops photographed on the ocean floor in the Mid-Atlantic in 2015. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
The primary Atlantic sea scallop fishery operates along the Atlantic coast from the Mid-Atlantic to the US/Canada border. The scallop fishery uses predominantly paired or single scallop dredges throughout the entire range of the fishery. To a lesser extent, and mainly in the Mid-Atlantic region, the scallop fishery uses trawl gear. Most vessels land scallops as shucked meats (the adductor muscle) but some vessels also land whole (in-shell) scallops. U.S. wild-caught Atlantic sea scallop is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.Implementing regulations are found at 50 CFR part 648 subpart D.
Population
The stock is not overfished.
Fishing Rate
Not subject to overfishing.
Habitat Impacts
Area closures and gear restrictions protect habitat that are affected by some kinds of trawl and dredge gear.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
Population Status
- According to the 2020stock assessment, Atlantic sea scallop isnot overfished and not subject to overfishing.Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART.
Appearance
- Scallops are bivalves (having two shells), like clams and oysters.
- The shells are held together by the adductor muscle (the part of the scallop Americans typically eat).
- Sea scallops have a saucer-shaped shell with scalloped or fluted edges.
- The upper shell is usually reddish-pink or brown in color. The lower shell is white or cream.
- A small percentage (5–10 percent) of sea scallops are albinos, with white upper and lower shells.
- Sea scallop shells are smooth and lack the prominent ribbing that is characteristic of most other scallop shells. It is thought that the sea scallop’s smooth shell is an adaptation to allow it to propel itself faster and farther.
Biology
- Sea scallops can live up to 20 years. They grow quickly for the first few years of their life.
- The largest scallop ever reported was about 9 inches in shell height, but they typically don’t grow larger than 6 inches.
- Sea scallops can reproduce by age 2, but don’t produce many eggs or sperm until they are about 4 years old.
- They are very fertile—a female sea scallop can produce hundreds of millions of eggs per year. For this reason, scallops may respond more rapidly to management actions than species that reproduce slowly and in small numbers.
- Sea scallops usually spawn in late summer or early fall. They also may spawn in the spring, especially in the Mid-Atlantic Bight.
- After hatching, scallop larvae remain in the water column for 4 to 6 weeks before settling on the ocean floor.
- Sea scallops feed by filtering phytoplankton or other small organisms out of the water column, which can actually help to improve water quality by removing suspended materials.
- Many kinds of pelagic fish and invertebrates eat scallop larvae.
- Cod, wolffish, eel pout, flounder, crabs, lobster, sea turtles, and sea stars feed on juvenile and adult scallops.
- Using its adductor muscle to snap its top and bottom shells open and shut, a sea scallop can propel itself through the water. This helps them escape predators, such as sea stars, that other bivalves like mussels, clams, and oysters can’t avoid.
Where They Live
Range - Atlantic sea scallops are found in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, from Newfoundland to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
Habitat - Adult scallops live close together in groups called “beds,” on sandy or gravelly parts of the ocean floor.
- They are generally found at depths of about 100 to 300 feet on Georges Bank and in the Mid-Atlantic.
- Sea scallops can be found in shallower waters in Maine and Canada.
Fishery Management
- NOAA Fisheries and the New England Fishery Management Councilmanage the Atlantic sea scallop fishery.
- Managed under the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan:
- Managers determine a total allowable catch for the scallop fishery based on estimates of the scallop population. They allocate this catch amount to different groups of the fishery, depending on their permit type and historical catch, through days-at-sea and number of trips to special access areas.
- Other management measures include:
- Limits on crew size.
- Areas closed to scallop dredging to allow young scallops to grow large and reproduce, and to reduce bycatch of non-targeted species.
- Vessels harvesting scallops must use vessel monitoring systems (a satellite communications system used to monitor fishing activities).
- Individual Fishing Quotas (IFQs), a type of catch share program, for Limited Access General Category permit holders.
- There is a sea scallop fishery in the Gulf of Maine that operates in both federal and state waters. This fishery primarily occurs in Maine state waters and is managed by the state through gear and seasonal restrictions and rotational closures. The federal component of the fishery is managed through daily catch limits and gear restrictions.
Harvest
- Commercial fishery:
- In 2022, commercial landings of Atlantic sea scallop totaled 31.6million pounds of sea scallop meats and were valued at $478million,according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database.
- Scallop vessels from Massachusetts, Virginia, and New Jersey are responsible for the majority of the U.S. harvest.
- The principal U.S. commercial fisheries for sea scallop are in the Mid-Atlantic (from Virginia to Long Island, New York) and on Georges Bank and neighboring areas, such as the Great South Channel and Nantucket Shoals. There is also a small, primarily inshore fishery for sea scallops in the Gulf of Maine.
- The U.S. sea scallop fishery is extremely important to the U.S. economy and is the largest wild scallop fishery in the world.
- Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch:
- U.S. commercial fishermen harvest sea scallops year-round, primarily using turtle deflector–style scallop dredges that catch scallops much like rakes collect leaves.
- A small number of fishermen use otter trawls, mostly in the Mid-Atlantic.
- Divers and Digby dredges are sometimes used in near-shore areas in the Gulf of Maine.
- The bottom fishing gears used to harvest scallops, such as dredges and trawls, can remove some bottom habitat–forming organisms, including tubeworms and sponges.
- Managers have implemented a variety of measures to protect habitat from potential impacts of fishing gear:
- Several areas are closed year-round to harvesting scallops to protect sensitive habitat.
- Managers have implemented a rotational access area program, which restricts where and when scallop vessels can fish, benefitting both habitat and scallop populations.
- Fishermen use 4-inch rings in their scallop dredges that increase the dredges’ efficiency, catching larger scallops and allowing smaller scallops and other small marine life to return to the sea floor by passing through the dredge rings. The 4-inch rings reduce the amount of time dredges contact the bottom.
- Sea turtles, finfish (such as yellowtail flounder, skates, and monkfish), and undersized scallops can be incidentally caught in the scallop fishery.
- Managers seasonally prohibit fishing in areas where finfish species congregate, reducing catch of these untargeted species.
- Scallop fishermen receive annual allocations of windowpane and yellowtail flounder that they can catch. If the catches are exceeded, managers will implement measures to minimize catch of these species in a future fishing year (e.g., gear restrictions and seasonal closures).
- Scallop vessels in the Mid-Atlantic must use a turtle deflector dredgeand chain matwhen and where sea turtles occur on scallop grounds. The turtle deflector dredge excludes sea turtles from being caught in the dredge and prevents serious injuries to the turtles.
- Scallop dredges using “twine-tops” must adhere to gear modifications designed to allow fish to escape.
- Research and experimentation with different techniques and gears, as well as education efforts, have helped reduce bycatch.
- Managers and the fishing industry continue to collaborate to redesign scallop dredges to reduce flounder bycatch and to minimize injuries to and capture of sea turtles.
Scientific Classification
- Atlantic sea scallops are found in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, from Newfoundland to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
- Adult scallops live close together in groups called “beds,” on sandy or gravelly parts of the ocean floor.
- They are generally found at depths of about 100 to 300 feet on Georges Bank and in the Mid-Atlantic.
- Sea scallops can be found in shallower waters in Maine and Canada.
Fishery Management
- NOAA Fisheries and the New England Fishery Management Councilmanage the Atlantic sea scallop fishery.
- Managed under the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan:
- Managers determine a total allowable catch for the scallop fishery based on estimates of the scallop population. They allocate this catch amount to different groups of the fishery, depending on their permit type and historical catch, through days-at-sea and number of trips to special access areas.
- Other management measures include:
- Limits on crew size.
- Areas closed to scallop dredging to allow young scallops to grow large and reproduce, and to reduce bycatch of non-targeted species.
- Vessels harvesting scallops must use vessel monitoring systems (a satellite communications system used to monitor fishing activities).
- Individual Fishing Quotas (IFQs), a type of catch share program, for Limited Access General Category permit holders.
- There is a sea scallop fishery in the Gulf of Maine that operates in both federal and state waters. This fishery primarily occurs in Maine state waters and is managed by the state through gear and seasonal restrictions and rotational closures. The federal component of the fishery is managed through daily catch limits and gear restrictions.
Harvest
- Commercial fishery:
- In 2022, commercial landings of Atlantic sea scallop totaled 31.6million pounds of sea scallop meats and were valued at $478million,according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database.
- Scallop vessels from Massachusetts, Virginia, and New Jersey are responsible for the majority of the U.S. harvest.
- The principal U.S. commercial fisheries for sea scallop are in the Mid-Atlantic (from Virginia to Long Island, New York) and on Georges Bank and neighboring areas, such as the Great South Channel and Nantucket Shoals. There is also a small, primarily inshore fishery for sea scallops in the Gulf of Maine.
- The U.S. sea scallop fishery is extremely important to the U.S. economy and is the largest wild scallop fishery in the world.
- Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch:
- U.S. commercial fishermen harvest sea scallops year-round, primarily using turtle deflector–style scallop dredges that catch scallops much like rakes collect leaves.
- A small number of fishermen use otter trawls, mostly in the Mid-Atlantic.
- Divers and Digby dredges are sometimes used in near-shore areas in the Gulf of Maine.
- The bottom fishing gears used to harvest scallops, such as dredges and trawls, can remove some bottom habitat–forming organisms, including tubeworms and sponges.
- Managers have implemented a variety of measures to protect habitat from potential impacts of fishing gear:
- Several areas are closed year-round to harvesting scallops to protect sensitive habitat.
- Managers have implemented a rotational access area program, which restricts where and when scallop vessels can fish, benefitting both habitat and scallop populations.
- Fishermen use 4-inch rings in their scallop dredges that increase the dredges’ efficiency, catching larger scallops and allowing smaller scallops and other small marine life to return to the sea floor by passing through the dredge rings. The 4-inch rings reduce the amount of time dredges contact the bottom.
- Sea turtles, finfish (such as yellowtail flounder, skates, and monkfish), and undersized scallops can be incidentally caught in the scallop fishery.
- Managers seasonally prohibit fishing in areas where finfish species congregate, reducing catch of these untargeted species.
- Scallop fishermen receive annual allocations of windowpane and yellowtail flounder that they can catch. If the catches are exceeded, managers will implement measures to minimize catch of these species in a future fishing year (e.g., gear restrictions and seasonal closures).
- Scallop vessels in the Mid-Atlantic must use a turtle deflector dredgeand chain matwhen and where sea turtles occur on scallop grounds. The turtle deflector dredge excludes sea turtles from being caught in the dredge and prevents serious injuries to the turtles.
- Scallop dredges using “twine-tops” must adhere to gear modifications designed to allow fish to escape.
- Research and experimentation with different techniques and gears, as well as education efforts, have helped reduce bycatch.
- Managers and the fishing industry continue to collaborate to redesign scallop dredges to reduce flounder bycatch and to minimize injuries to and capture of sea turtles.
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia | Phylum | Mollusca | Class | Bivalvia | Order | Pectinida | Family | Pectinidae | Genus | Placopecten | Species | magellanicus |
|---|
Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 04/11/2024
Featured News
Atlantic sea scallops collected during the 2022 survey show the variety in coloration for this species. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Christine Kircun
Feature Story
2023 Northeast Atlantic Sea Scallop Survey Canceled
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Juvenile sea scallops obtained from Pine Point Oyster Company in Maine were used in this ocean acidification exposure study.
Feature Story
New Study Finds Ocean Acidification and Warming Hinder Juvenile Atlantic Sea Scallop Growth
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Fishermen lowers sea scallops into the water. Credit: NOAA Fisheries.
Video
Farming Sea Scallops in Maine Offers New Opportunities and Builds Community Resilience
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Hugh Cowperthwaite, CEI Senior Program Director for Fisheries and Aquaculture, holds up a lantern net while describing the method of scallop farming with lantern nets hung vertically in the water. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
Feature Story
Farming Sea Scallops in Maine
New England/Mid-Atlantic
View More News
Related Species
Recreational Fishing Regulations
There is no recreational fishing allowed in the Atlantic sea scallop fishery.
Atlantic sea scallops may only be harvested from federal waters by vessels issued a federal scallop permit.
- There is no charter/party component to the scallop fishery in federal waters.
- Atlantic sea scallops may not be harvested from federal waters by recreational anglers.
More Information
- Greater Atlantic Recreational Fishing
Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 04/11/2024
Commercial Fishing Regulations
Fishing Year 2023 Scallop Fishery Allocations
Acceptable Biological Catch/ Annual Catch Limit (ACL) (discards removed) | 21,497 mt (447,392,786 lb) |
|---|---|
Incidental Catch | 23 mt (50,706 lb) |
Research Set-Aside (RSA) | 578 mt (1,274,000 lb) |
Observer Set-Aside | 215 mt (473,994 lb) |
ACL for fishery | 20,490 mt (45,172,731 lb) |
Limited Access ACL | 19,363 mt (42,688,120 lb) |
LAGC Total ACL | 1,127 mt (2,484,610 lb) |
LAGC IFQ ACL (5% of ACL) | 1,024 mt (2,257,534 lb) |
Limited Access with LAGC IFQ ACL (0.5% of ACL) | 103 mt (227,076 lb) |
Limited Access Annual Catch Targets (ACT) | 16,781 mt (36,995,783 lb) |
Annual Projected Landings (APL)(after set-asides removed) | 11,609 mt (25,593,471lb) |
Limited Access APL (94.5% of APL) | 10,971 mt (24,186,922 lb) |
Total IFQ Annual Allocation (5.5% of APL) | 638 mt (1,406,550 lb) |
LAGC IFQ Annual Allocation (5% of APL) | 580 mt (1,278,681 lb) |
Limited Access with LAGC IFQ Annual Allocation (0.5% of APL) | 58 mt (127,868lb) |
| Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) Total Allowable Landings (TAL) | 206 mt (454,152 lb) |
| 1 percent NGOM ABC for Observers | 3.8mt (8,554 lb) |
| RSA Contribution | 11 mt (25,000 lb) |
| NGOM Set-Aside | 191 mt (420,598 lb) |
Quotas
Quotas for Atlantic sea scallop fishery change every year or every two years. If specifications are not in place at the start of a fishing year, default specifications will go into place.
Size Requirements
Minimum Shell Height
The minimum shell height for in-shell scallops that may be landed or possessed at or after landing is 3.5 inches (8.9 cm).Shell height is a straight line measurement from the hinge to the part of the shell that is farthest away from the hinge.
Maximum Shell Height
There is no maximum scallop size.
Possession and Trip Limits
Scallop possession limits vary by permit, area, and year.
To see the Limited Access scallop vessel allocations for the 2024 fishing year, read the March 22, 2024 bulletin—2024 Fishing Year Limited Access Allocations for the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery
To see the Limited Access General Category scallop vessel allocations for 2024 fishing year, read the March 22, 2024 bulletin—2024 Fishing Year Individual Fishing Quota Allocations for the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery.
One-for-One Access Area Allocation Exchanges
Vessels may exchange unharvested scallop pounds allocated into one access area for another vessel's unharvested scallop pounds allocated into another access area. These exchanges may only be made in 6,000-lb increments between vessels in the same permit category.
In addition, these exchanges may be made only between vessels with the same permit category: A full-time vessel may not exchange allocations with a part-time vessel, and vice versa.
Atlantic Sea Scallop Individual Fishing Quota Cost Recovery Program
2016 Annual Report (June 2017)
- 2021 Annual Report (April 2022)
- 2022 Annual Report (June 2023)
Other Species Regulations
Northeast Multispecies
Possession Limits for LAGC Vessels
LAGC vessels are prohibited from landing Northeast multispecies,unless they are on a declared Northeast multispecies trip (i.e., they cannot be on a declared IFQ trip and retainNortheast multispecies).
Possession Limits for LA Vessels
Unless otherwise prohibited, limited access scallop vessels also issued a valid Northeast multispecies permit, that have declared into a trip and fishing within the Sea Scallop Access Areas may possess and land, per trip, up to a maximum of 1,000 lb of all New England multispecies combined.
Additional restrictions for Atlantic cod, haddock, and yellowtail flounder are listed below:
Atlantic cod: Vessels may possess up to 100 lb (45.4 kg) of Atlantic cod per trip, provided such fish is intended for personal use only and cannot be not sold, traded, or bartered
Haddock: Vessels may possess and land haddock up to the overall possession limit of all Northeast multispecies combined, except that vessels are prohibited from possessing or landing haddock from January 1 through June 30
Yellowtail Flounder: Vessels are prohibited from possessing yellowtail flounder
Scallop DAS Trips
Unless otherwise prohibited, limited access scallop vessels also issued a valid Northeast multispecies permit, that have declared into the scallop DAS program may possess and land, per trip:
Northeast Multispecies: A maximum of 300 lb of all Northeast multispecies combined
Yellowtail Flounder: Vessels are prohibited from possessing yellowtail flounder
Monkfish
Monkfish Incidental Trip Limits for Limited Access Vessels
For LAvessels while on a Scallop DAS or in the Sea Scallop Access Area Program have the following limits:
Areas: NFMA & SFMA
Gear: All Gear
Landing Limit (tail weight per DAS): 300 lb (873 lb whole weight)
Monkfish Incidental Trip Limits for LAGC Vessels
Scallop Dredge Exemption Areas: 50 lb (tail weight) per trip
West of72’30’’ (i.e., in the Mid-Atlantic exemption area): LAGC vessels may use trawls or dredges, and the monkfish possession limit depends on gear size.
When using mesh size equal to or larger than 5.5” diamond/6” square in body, extensions, and codend – 5 percent of the total weight of fish on board, up to 450 lb trip
When using mesh size smaller than 5.5” diamond/6” square in body, extensions, and codend – 50 lb per day, up to 150 lb per trip
Maximum Fish Size:None
Reporting A Commercial Catch
Reporting Requirements
Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Requirements
All vessels issued a federal scallop permit are required to have an active VMS unit and must use their VMS unit to declare all vessel activity including fishing trips and transiting.
Observer Requirements
Beginning April 1, 2024, scallop vessel owners and operators will be required to notify NOAA Fisheries of their intent to fish using the Pre-Trip Notification System (PTNS) instead of the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system. Notifications for an April 1st sail date must be entered through PTNS, up to 10 days in advance.
The new process will allow vessels to enter their own notifications online using thePTNS website. Vessels will log into the PTNS website with their individual Fish Online username and password. This will be the primary means of trip notification and trip changes. Vessels can submit a notification anytime between 10 days and 48 hours before the intended trip, a decrease in the current 72-hour notification requirement.
Scallop permit holders are encouraged to visit theScallop PTNS webpagefor more details.
Resources:
- PTNS Scallop Vessel User Guide(PDF, 18 pages)
- PTNS Frequently Asked Questions(PDF, 10 pages)
- Instructional video
- Survival Craft Requirements Regarding Capacity
Catch Reporting and Vessel Trip Reports
Vessel Trip Reports
A vessel trip report (VTR) must be received by NOAA Fisheries or postmarked within 15 days after the end of the reporting month. For vessels that also hold a Northeast multispecies permit, VTRs must be submitted weekly by Tuesday of the week after the fishing trip ends.
Copies of VTRs must be retained on board the vessel for one year after the date of the last entry on the log and otherwise retained for three years after the date of the last entry on the log.
If no fishing activity took place during a reporting period (week or month), then a VTR must be submitted stating that no fishing trips were taken.
Read theVTR Instructions.
VMS Catch Reports
Scallop vessels may be required to submit two catch reports through VMS.Read the instructions for completing VMS forms.
Scallop Catch Report
The first form is required by all LA and LAGC vessels that are fishing for, possessing, or retaining scallops, and not also fishing under a Northeast multispecies DAS or sector allocation.The form, often referred to as the scallop catch report, is used to monitor scallop and yellowtail flounder catch on scallop trips.
These reports must be submitted in 24-hour intervals for each day of fishing that begins at 0000 hours and ends at 2400 hours.The reports must be submitted before 9 a.m. each day for the previous day’s catch. The reports include:
Fishing Vessel Trip Report logbook page number;
Total pounds of scallop meats kept;
Total pounds of all other fish kept.
The Scallop Pre-Landing Notification Form
The second report you may need to submit is the Scallop Pre-Landing Notification Form, which is required under the following four circ*mstances:
- When on a declared limited access trip;
- When on a declared limited access general category (LAGC) trip; or
- When a vessel with an LAGC or Northern Gulf of Maine scallop permit is on a declared trip outside the scallop fishery when scallops are kept.
(This includes limited access vessels that are also issued IFQ or NGOM permits when landing scallops and not on a declared scallop day-at-sea or on an access area trip allocated through their full-time, part-time, or occasional permits.)
The pre-landing notification form must be submitted at least 6 hours before landing scallops, and before crossing the VMS demarcation line.If your scallop harvesting ends less than 6 hours before landing, then the report is to be sent immediately upon leaving the fishing grounds.
This form serves two important purposes: (1) To support timely monitoring and attribution of scallop landings to vessel permits; and (2) to notify NOAA's Office of Law Enforcementof where vessel operators plan to land scallops.
Please contact the Northeast VMS Team with questions.
Commercial Gear Information
Dredge Gear Requirements
Maximum Dredge Width
Limited Access vessels (excluding vessels in the Small Dredge Program) may not use a dredge(s) with a combined dredge width of more than 31 ft.Limited Access vessels enrolled in the Small Dredge Program may only fish with one dredge, and the dredge width may not exceed 10.5 ft.
LAGC vessels may fish with a maximum combined dredge width of 10.5 ft, measured at the widest point in the bail of the dredge. The only exception is for LAGC vessels fishing in the Mid-Atlantic Exemption Area, where vessels may use dredge gear with a combined dredge width of no more than 31 ft.
Minimum Mesh Size
The mesh size of any material on the top of any scallop dredge (twine top) may not be smaller than 10-inch square or diamond mesh.
Minimum Ring Size
The ring size in any scallop dredge possessed or used by scallop vessels may not be smaller than 4 inches.
Link Restrictions
No more than double links between rings may be used in or on all parts of the dredge bag, except the dredge bottom.No more than triple linking shall be used in or on the dredge bottom portion and the diamonds.
Damaged links that are connected to only one ring, i.e., “hangers,” are allowed if they occur between two links that both couple the same two rings.Dredge rings may not be attached via links to more than four adjacent rings. Thus, dredge rings must be rigged in a configuration such that, when a series of adjacent rings are held horizontally, the neighboring rings form a pattern of horizontal rows and vertical columns.
Gear Restrictions and Obstructions
No material, device, or link configuration may be used if it results in obstructing the release of scallops that would have passed through a legal sized and configured net and dredge. No chafing gear or cookies may be used on the top of the dredge.
All limited access and LAGC IFQ vessels that are fishing for scallops must have no more than seven rows in the apron between the twine top and the clubstick, year-round and in all areas.This is intended to further reduce flatfish bycatch.
Scallop Dredge Gear Stowage Requirements
Scallop vessels may transit closed areas and access areas (excluding Closed Area IIunless there is a compelling safety reason to do so) on either a scallop access area or open area trip, provided gear is properly stowed.
Seasonal Turtle Chain Mat and Turtle Deflector Dredge (TDD) Requirements
Effective Date, Season, and Area Required:
Between May 1 and November 30
Scallop vessels fishing west of 71° W. longitude must use both TDDs and Turtle chain mats during the entire TDD and chain mat season
Chain Mat Description
The mat must cover the entire opening of the dredge bag.The vertical and horizontal chains must be hung to cover the opening of the dredge bag such that the vertical chains extend from the back of the cutting bar to the sweep.The horizontal chains must intersect the vertical chains such that the length of each side of the openings formed by the intersecting chains is less than or equal to 14 inches with the exception of the side of any individual opening created by the sweep.The sweep is defined as a chain extending, usually in an arc, from one end of the dredge frame to the other which the ring bag including the diamonds, is attached. The sweep forms the edge of the opening of the dredge bag.
Vessels That Must Use the TDD
All scallop vessels fishing in the TDD area during the TDD season described above with the exception of Limited Access General Category (LAGC) vessels that use a dredge less than 10’ 6” in width. Specific examples are listed below.
Requirements of the TDD Design
(1) The cutting bar must be located in front of the depressor plate.
(2) The acute angle between the plane of the bale and the strut must be less than or equal to 45 degrees.
(3) All bale bars must be removed, except the outer bale (single or double) bars and the center support beam, leaving an otherwise unobstructed space between the cutting bar and forward bale wheels, if present.The center support beam must be less than 6” wide. For the purpose of flaring and safe handling of the dredge, a minor appendage, not to exceed 12” in length, may be attached to each of the outer bale bar (“flaring bar”).If the flaring bar is attached in a u-shape, none of the three sides of the flaring bar can exceed 12 inches in length. The appendage should at no point be closer than 12” to the cutting bar so that it does not interfere with the space created by the “bump out”.
(4) Struts must be spaced no more than 12” apart from each other, along the entire length of the frame.
(5) For all dredges with widths of 10’ 6” or greater, the TDD must include a straight extension ("bump out") connecting the outer bale bars to the dredge frame.This "bump out" must exceed 12” in length, as measured along the inside of the bale bar from the front of the cutting bar to the first bend in the bale bar.
Trawl Gear Requirements
Authorized Scallop Trawl Vessels
Limited Access vessels permitted to use trawl gear (Categories 7, 8, and 9) to harvest scallops must comply with the maximum sweep, minimum mesh, and gear obstruction requirements of the Northeast Multispecies regulations.Trawl gear is not allowed in the northern scallop access areas (Closed Area I, Closed Area II, and Nantucket Lightship).
Limited Access General Category scallop vessels fishing west of 72°30’ W. longitude in the Mid-Atlantic Exemption Area, may fish for scallops with trawl gear provided they comply with all applicable trawl gear restrictions, which depend on the species retained, including scallops.
Maximum Sweep
The trawl sweep of nets shall not exceed 144 ft, as measured by the total length of the footrope that is directly attached to the webbing, unless the net is properly stowed and not available for immediate use.
Minimum Mesh Size
The mesh size for any scallop trawl net in all areas shall not be smaller than 5.5 inches.However, if a vessel possesses other species, other mesh size restrictions may apply.
Scallop Trawl Gear Stowage
Scallop vessels may transit closed areas and access areas (excluding Closed Area II and Elephant Trunk Closed Area, unless there is a compelling safety reason to do so) on either a scallop access area or open area trip, provided gear is properly stowed.
More Information
- Atlantic Sea Scallop Permits
- Quota Monitoring
- Recent Notices and Rules
- Recent Permit Holder Bulletins
- Scallop Management Areas
- Fishing Industry Home Page
Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 04/11/2024
Subsistence Fishing Regulations
Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 04/11/2024
Seafood Facts
Are Atlantic Sea Scallops Sustainable?
U.S. wild-caught Atlantic sea scallop is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Availability
Year-round.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from Maine to North Carolina.
Taste
Sea scallops have a sweet, rich taste that can be mild or briny.
Texture
Firm and lean.
Color
Raw scallops are shiny and creamy white, sometimes with an orange or pinkish tint (a natural variation that does not affect taste or quality). High-quality scallops have an ivory translucence and should keep their shape.
Health Benefits
Scallops are a good low-fat source of protein and are high in selenium and B vitamins.
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1; Serving Weight: 100 g; Calories: 88; Protein: 16.7 g; Total Fat: 0.76 g; Total Saturated Fatty Acids: 0.079 g; Carbohydrate: 2.36 g; Total Sugars: 0 g; Total Dietary Fiber: 0 g; Cholesterol: 33 mg; Selenium: 22.2 mcg; Sodium: 161 mg
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Management Areas
Image
Fishing Year 2024 RotationalArea Coordinates
Access Areas for Fishing Year 2024
Area II Access Area
| Point | N latitude | W longitude | Note |
| AII1 | 41°30′ | 67°20′ | |
| AII2 | 41°30′ | (1) | (2) |
| AII3 | 40°40′ | (3) | (2) |
| AII4 | 40°40′ | 67°20′ | |
| AII1 | 41°30′ | 67°20′ |
1 The intersection of 41°30′ N lat. and the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary, approximately 41°30′ N lat., 66°34.73′ W long.
2 From Point AII2 connected to Point AII3 along the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary.
3 The intersection of 40°40′ N lat. and the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary, approximately 40°40′ N lat. and 65°52.61′ W long.
New York Bight Scallop Rotational Area
| Point | N latitude | W longitude |
| NYB1 | 40° 00′ | 73° 20′ |
| NYB2 | 40° 00′ | 72° 30′ |
| NYB3 | 39° 20′ | 72° 30′ |
| NYB4 | 39° 20′ | 73° 20′ |
| NYB1 | 40° 00′ | 73° 20′ |
Closed Areas Reverting to Open Area
Elephant Trunk
| Point | N latitude | W longitude |
| ET1 | 38°50′ | 74°20′ |
| ET2 | 38°50′ | 73°30′ |
| ET3 | 38°10′ | 73°30′ |
| ET4 | 38°10′ | 74°20′ |
| ET1 | 38°50′ | 74°20′ |
Closed Areas for Fishing Year 2024
Area I Scallop Rotational Area
| Point | N latitude | W longitude |
| AIA1 | 40° 58.2’ | 68° 30’ |
| AIA2 | 40° 55.8’ | 68° 46.8’ |
| AIA3 | 41° 3.0’ | 68° 52.2’ |
| AIA4 | 41° 0.6’ | 68° 58.2’ |
| AIA5 | 41° 4.2’ | 69° 1.2’ |
| AIA6 | 41° 25.8’ | 68° 30’ |
| AIA1 | 40° 58.2’ | 68° 30’ |
Area I-Sliver Scallop Rotational Area
| Point | N latitude | W longitude |
| AIS1 | 41° 30.0’ | 68° 30.0’ |
| AIS2 | 41° 25.8’ | 68° 30.0’ |
| AIS3 | 41° 4.2’ | 69° 1.2’ |
| AIS4 | 41° 30.0’ | 69° 22.8’ |
| AIS1 | 41° 30.0’ | 68° 30.0’ |
Area I-Quad Scallop Rotational Area
| Point | N latitude | W longitude |
| AIQ1 | 40° 55.2’ | 68° 53.4’ |
| AIQ2 | 41° 0.6’ | 68° 58.2’ |
| AIQ3 | 41° 3.0’ | 68° 52.2’ |
| AIQ4 | 40° 55.8’ | 68° 46.8’ |
| AIQ1 | 40° 55.2’ | 68° 53.4’ |
Nantucket Lightship Scallop Rotational Area
| Point | N latitude | W longitude |
| NLS1 | 40° 49.8’ | 69° 0.0’ |
| NLS2 | 40° 49.8’ | 69° 30.0’ |
| NLS3 | 40° 43.2’ | 69° 30.0’ |
| NLS4 | 40° 43.2’ | 70° 19.8’ |
| NLS5 | 40° 26.4’ | 70° 19.8’ |
| NLS6 | 40° 19.8’ | 70° 0.0’ |
| NLS7 | 40° 19.8’ | 68° 48.0’ |
| NLS8 | 40° 33.0’ | 68° 48.0’ |
| NLS9 | 40° 33.0’ | 69° 0.0’ |
| NLS1 | 40° 49.8’ | 69° 0.0’ |
Georges Bank Accountability Measure Area
| Point | N latitude | W longitude | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBAM1 | 41°30′ | 67°20′ | |
| GBAM2 | 41°30′ | (1) | (2) |
| GBAM3 | 40°30′ | (3) | (2) |
| GBAM4 | 40°30′ | 67°20′ | |
| GBAM1 | 41°30′ | 67°20′ |
1 The intersection of 41°30′ N lat. and the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary, approximately 41°30′ N lat., 66°34.73′ W long.
2 From Point GBAM2 connected to Point GBAM3 along the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary.
3 The intersection of 40°30′ N lat. and the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary, approximately, 65°44.34′ W long.Other Atlantic Sea Scallop Management Area Coordinates
NGOM Scallop Management Area
Point | N. Latitude | W. Longitude |
|---|---|---|
NGOM1 | 42°20' | Massachusetts Shoreline |
NGOM2 | 42°20' | 69°40' |
NGOM3 | 42°49.5' | 69°40' |
NGOM4 | 43°12' | 69°00' |
NGOM5 | 43°41' | 68°00' |
G2 | 43°58' | 67°22' |
G1 | Northward along the irregular U.S.-Canada maritime boundary to the shoreline | Northward along the irregular U.S.-Canada maritime boundary to the shoreline |
GOM Scallop Dredge Exemption Area
The GOM Scallop Dredge Fishery Exemption Area is bounded on the west and north by the coastlines of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine, bounded on the east by the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary, and bounded on the south by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:
Point | N. Latitude | W. Longitude |
|---|---|---|
GOM1 | 43°58′ | (1) |
GOM2 | 43°58′ | 67°22′ |
GOM3 | 43°41′ | 68°00′ |
GOM4 | 43°12′ | 69°00′ |
GOM5 | 42°49.5′ | 69°40′ |
GOM6 | 42°20′ | 69°40′ |
GOM7 | 42°20′ | (2) |
1 The intersection of43°58′ N lat. and the U.S.-Canada Maritime boundary.
2 The intersection of42°20′ N lat. and the coastline of Massachusetts.
Georges Bank/Southern New England Scallop Dredge Exemption Area
The Georges Bank/Southern New England dredge exemption area is bounded on the north by 42°20′ N lat.; bounded on the east by the U.S.-Canada Maritime boundary and the outer limit of the US EEZ; bounded on the west by 72°30′ W long. from the outer limit of the US EEZ to the south-facing coastline of Long Island; and bounded on the northwest by the following points, connected as noted in the order listed:
Point | N. Latitude | W. Longitude | Note |
| 1 | The south-facing coastline of Long Island | 72°30′ | From Point 1 to Point 2 following the coastline of Long Island. |
| 2 | 41°00′ | The southeast-facing coast of Long Island | From Point 2 to Point 3 following a straight line. |
| 3 | 41°00′ | The 3 nautical mile line, approximately 71°51.841′ W long | From Point 3 to Point 4 following the Submerged Lands Act (3 nautical mile) line. |
| 4 | 41°4.25′ | The 3 nautical mile line, approximately 71°47.384′ W long | From Point 4 to Point 5 following a straight line. |
| 5 | 41°15′ | 72°2.25′ | Point 5 represents Race Point, Fishers Island, NY. From Point 5 to Point 6 following a straight line northeasterly through Fishers Island, NY. |
| 6 | 41°18.2′ | 71°51.5′ | Point 6 represents Watch Hill, RI. From Point 6 to Point 7 following the coastlines of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. |
| 7 | 42°20′ | The coastline of Massachusetts |
The Mid-Atlantic Exemption Area
This area is bounded on the east by the western boundary of the Southern New England Dredge Exemption area, as described above.
Accountability Measure Areas
Georges Bank Accountability Measure Area
Point | Latitude | Longitude | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
GBAM1 | 41°30’ N | 67°20’ W | |
GBAM2 | 41°30’ N | The intersection of 41°30′ N. lat. and the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary, approximately 41°30′ N. lat., 66°34.73′ W. long. | From Point GBAM2 connected to Point GBAM3 along the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary. |
GBAM3 | 40°30’ N | The intersection of 40°30′ N. lat. and the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary, approximately, 65°44.34′ W. long. | From Point GBAM2 connected to Point GBAM3 along the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary. |
GBAM4 | 40°30’ N | 67°20’ W | |
GBAM1 | 41°30’ N | 67°20’ W |
Mid-Atlantic Accountability Measure Area
All waters west of 71° W. Long.
More Information
- Atlantic Sea Scallop Charts
Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 04/11/2024
Observer Program
Under the industry-funded observer program, if a vessel is selected to carry an observer, the vessel is responsible to pay for that observer on that trip.In order to help defray the cost to vessel owners for this observer coverage, one percent of the ABC/ACL is set aside as the Observer Set-Aside. This set-aside is then distributed to vessels that carry observers.
LA vessels either receive additional pounds in access areas or DAS in open areas, and LAGC IFQ vessels receive additional pounds attributed to their IFQ allocations.
History
The industry-funded observer program was first used when scallop vessels gained access into portions of groundfish closed areas under Joint Framework Adjustments 11 and 39 to the Scallop and Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plans (FMPs), respectively.The set-aside program was expanded in Amendment 10 to the Scallop FMP to include other access areas and open areas. Since its beginning, the industry-funded observer program has applied to LA vessels, and more recently LAGC IFQ vessels were incorporated into the program. The industry-funded observer program has enabled higher observer rates in the scallop fishery compared to other fisheries in the region.
Observer Set-Aside Compensation Rate
The observer compensation rates refer to the amount of additional pounds of scallops, or scallop DAS for LA vessels on open area trips, that will be allotted to vessels that are selected to carry observers.
Using the one-percent observer set-aside described above, as well as information on expected trip lengths, trip costs, landings-per-unit effort, and expected scallop prices, NOAA Fisheriesselects compensation rates that are expected to provide sufficient compensation for the observer fee, while also providing sufficient observer coverage based on anticipated coverage levels needed for a given fishing year.
NOAA Fisheries monitors the compensation rates and the observer set-aside use in each area very closely throughout the year.If information suggests that a different rate is necessary to account for unexpected fishery conditions, we will change the compensation rate as appropriate and necessary.
More Information
- Northeast Scallop Industry-Funded Observer Program
- 2023 Observer Compensation Rate Calculation Summary
- Pre-Trip Notification System (PTNS) Website
- FY 2024 Scallop PTNS Vessel User Guide
- PTNS Frequently Asked Questions
- PTNS Instructional Video
- Observer Safety Craft Capacity Requirements
Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 04/11/2024
Management Overview
The Atlantic sea scallop fishery consists of two primary fleets, the Limited Access (LA) fleet, and the Limited Access General Category (LAGC) fleet, which are managed differently.
Limited AccessFleet
The LA fleet is managed with days-at-sea (DAS) – a number of days that can be fished per year – and an access area rotation program.
The New England Fishery Management Councilestablished the access area rotational program to promote optimal yield in the fishery. Under the rotation program, the Council closes areas with large concentrations of fast-growing, small scallops before the scallops are exposed to fishing. Scallops grow fastest when they are very small and protection of these small scallops through area closures is critical in the rotational management of the scallop resource.
After a period of closure, and after evaluation according to the criteria and procedures established in the Fishery Management Plan, the areas will re-open for scallop fishing, when the scallops are larger and more suitable for harvest. This process boosts scallop meat yield and yield per recruit. When the areas are open for access (i.e., “access areas”), vessels are allocated a number of trips with corresponding trip limits that they may use in those dedicated access areas.Once the high concentrations of scallops in an access area have been fished down, the Council may decide to close the area again if it appears that the resource will rebound in a few years after protecting any small scallops that may be there, or the Council could convert the area back to an “open area”.Open areas are where LA vessels fish for scallops under DAS allocations.
Limited Access General Category Fleet
The primary component of the LAGC fleet is vessels with Individual Fishing Quotas.These vessels are allocated a yearly quotathatmay be leased or permanently transferred among the LACGfleet and may be fished throughout the fishing year.Althoughvessels are allocated a number of fleet-wide trips into the scallop access areas (landings from these trips are still applied against their quotas), most of the scallop fishing by LAGC vessels occurs in open areas.
LAGC vessels are required to fish in specificareas within the open areas. These areas are the Gulf of Maine, Southern New England, and Great South Channel Scallop Dredge Exemption Areas, and the Mid-Atlantic Exemption Area.
Market Information
Sea scallops are primarily landed as shucked meats which are graded by the number of meats per pound.Example: 20-30, 10-20, or U10 (less than 10 meats per pound). There is also a limited market for live, unshucked scallops.
The Atlantic sea scallop fishery is the largest and most valuable wild scallop fishery in the world. For the latest information on landings, please check our Fisheries Economics of the U.S. reports.
Massachusetts and New Jersey are responsible for the majority of the U.S. harvest.The three primary ports are New Bedford, Massachusetts, Cape May, New Jersey,and Norfolk, Virginia.
Management Plans
The New England Fishery Management Counciland NOAA Fisheries manage the scallop fishery in federal waters under the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan.
The scallop fishery operates year-round.
The fishing year for management measures is April 1 to March 30.
The LA fishery is managed by open access areas and days-at-sea, while the LACG fishery operates under a quota system.
Note: The Northern Gulf of Maine management area is managed separately from the rest of the Atlantic sea scallop stock.
Check out this interactivestory mapto learn more about our partnership with fishermen and scientists and how we're working to learn more about this species and what makes a successful fishery.
Regulatory History
1982 – Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan implemented, requiring that harvestable scallops meet a minimum weight requirement
1994 – NOAA Fisheries closes areas on Georges Bank and Nantucket shoals to groundfish and scallop fishing
1994 – Moratorium on scallop permits implemented; limits on "days-at-sea" to reduce fishing effort and a limit on crew size are initiated; protocol for collecting commercial fishing data for Northeast U.S. fisheries is changed; increase in dredge ring size from 3.0 to 3.5 inches is required by 1996; open access "general category" scallop permits created to allow small-scale scalloping and incidental catch of scallops in other fisheries
1997 – Scallops are declared overfished
1998 – More stringent "days-at-sea" limitation and a plan to rebuild stocks within 10 years are established; maximum crew size capped at seven; vessel monitoring systems are required on limited access scallop vessels
1998-2001 – Managers close extensive areas in Mid-Atlantic Bight region to scallop fishing
1999-2001 – First limited re-openings of closed area on Georges Bank
2001 – Mid-Atlantic biomass continues to increase as a result of above-average recruitment coupled with better size selection by the fishery and gear; Mid-Atlantic areas closed since 1998 reopen to controlled fishing
2004 – Area rotation management programimplemented (rotating open and closed areas to maximize scallop yield); a new rotational area (the "Elephant Trunk" area) is closed to fishing for 3 years; dredge ring size is further increased to 4 inches; minimum mesh size for mesh on top of the dredge gear set at 10 inches to reduce flounder bycatch
2004 – Biomass peaks
2004-2006 – Limited portions of Georges Bank closed areas reopen to controlled fishing
2005 – Vessel monitoring systems required on open access general category vessels
2006 – Chain mats required in sea scallop dredges used in the Mid-Atlantic, May through November, to prevent sea turtles from entering gear
2007 – Industry-funded observer program continued through a total allowable catch and days-at-sea set-aside program to help vessel owners defray the cost of carrying observers (program is necessary to monitor bycatch of finfish and interactions with threatened and endangered species)
2007 – Elephant Trunk area reopens to fishing; a new rotational closure (Delmarva) is implemented
2008 – Limited access and individual quotas established for the general category fleet of scallop vessels; other important measures established to control fishing mortality and capacity in the general category scallop fishery
2008 – Researchers find high number of small seed scallops, or recruits, in the Great South Channel of Georges Bank and in other survey areas; numbers are the highest seen on Georges Bank since 2000 and the second highest in the Mid-Atlantic Bight since 1979, documenting the effectiveness of management rotating commercial fishery access to highly productive sea scallop areas while closing other areas to allow sea scallops to grow; very encouraging news for both the resource and the fishery during the next few years
2008 – The limited access general category (LAGC) scallop fishery is created and there is no longer an open access scallop permit. There are three categories of LAGC permits: Individual fishing quota (IFQ) permits, Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) permits, and incidental permits.
2010 – All IFQ permit appeals are completed; the IFQ program begins
2011 – Annual catch limit and accountability measure (AM) requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act are implemented, including a sub-ACL and AM for yellowtail flounder caught in the scallop fishery; scallop EFH closed areas are modified to be consistent with areas closed for EFH in the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan.
2012 – The Turtle Deflector Dredge (TDD) is approved (implemented in May 2013) and modifications to the yellowtail flounder AMs were implemented
More Information
- e-CFR for Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Regulations
- New England Fishery Management Council Sea Scallop Page
- Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan
- Sea Scallops Permits Page
- Scallop Management Areas
- Fishing Industry Home Page
Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 04/11/2024
Science Overview
NOAA Fisheries conducts various research activities on the biology, behavior, and population health of Atlantic sea scallops. The results of this research are used to inform management decisions for this species.
For detailed information about stock status, management, assessments, and resource trends, you can search for Atlantic sea scallop, and any other species of interest, using NOAA’s StockSMART web tool.
Atlantic Sea Scallop Research in the Northeast
Scientists from NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center have surveyed the Atlantic sea scallop population off the northeastern United States coast between North Carolina and Massachusetts every year since 1979. They divide the survey area into zones of various depths and habitat, then tow a dredge and camera to randomly sample and document the marine life and other conditions in these zones. After each tow, they sort, count, and measure their catch.
New Technologies to Supplement Dredge Data
Dredge catches provide relative indices of the average density of animals, along with some information about bottom type and habitat. Scientists have recently started using a new undersea camera called the “HabCam” in scallop surveys to supplement the dredge data. The HabCam (short for Habitat Mapping Camera System) was developed by scientists at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution working with Cape Cod scallop fishermen. Images from the HabCam supply absolute densities of scallops and other species, are less labor intensive in terms of crew, and provide much more information about the bottom habitat, all in near-real time. Using both the annual dredge surveys and the HabCam provides a more complete picture of the scallop population and its habitat.
Sea Scallop Research Set-Aside Program
Under the Sea Scallop Research Set-Aside Program, 1.25 million pounds (567 metric tons) of the allowed scallop harvest is set aside each year to fund scallop and habitat research and surveys to provide better information for future management decisions. This is not a federally-funded program. Participating scallop vessels fund research through the sale of the scallops they harvest. Past projects have focused on gear research to minimize bycatch of finfish, sea turtles, and small scallops; surveys of rotational access areas and other areas; studies of scallop biology; and development of survey technologies.
Research & Data
Atlantic Sea Scallop Managed Waters Fishing Year 2024
This dataset depicts the boundaries of Sea Scallop Rotational Areas for 2024.
March 28, 2024 -
Map ,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Atlantic Sea Scallop Managed Waters Fishing Year 2022
This dataset depicts the boundaries of Atlantic Sea Scallop Managed Waters for Fishing Year 2022.
April 19, 2022 -
Map ,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Storymap: Scallop Map 2018
Take a tour of each section of the scallop regulations in 2018 in this storymap.
May 20, 2020 -
Map ,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Georges Bank/Southern New England Scallop Dredge Exemption Area
This dataset depicts the boundaries of the Georges Bank/Southern New England (GB/SNE) Scallop Dredge Exemption Area.
May 13, 2020 -
Map ,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
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- Farming Sea Scallops in Maine Offers New Opportunities and Builds Community Res…
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Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 04/11/2024
Documents
Document
Industry Funded Scallop Reports for the Northeast
The reports track observer coverage assignment, achieved coverage, and the desired target coverages…
New England/Mid-Atlantic
More Documents
Data & Maps
Map
Atlantic Sea Scallop Managed Waters Fishing Year 2024
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Map
Atlantic Sea Scallop Managed Waters Fishing Year 2023
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Map
Atlantic Sea Scallop Managed Waters Fishing Year 2022
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Map
Storymap: Scallop Map 2018
New England/Mid-Atlantic
More Data
More Maps
Research
2024 Sea Scallop Research Set-Aside Projects Selected
NOAA Fisheries has selected 14 sea scallop applications through the Scallop Research Set-Aside Program.
New England/Mid-Atlantic
2023 Annual Report of the Atlantic Sea Scallop Individual Fishing Quota Cost Recovery Program
This page contains information about the cost recovery program for the Atlantic Sea Scallop Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) fishery, and the costs associated with management and enforcement of the IFQ fishery during the 2023 fee period.
New England/Mid-Atlantic
2024 Scallop Observer Compensation Rate Calculation Summary
The Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office and the Northeast Fisheries Science Center work together to calculate the observer set-aside compensation rate for fishing year 2024.
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery: Fishing Year 2023 Observer Compensation Rate Calculation Summary
The Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office and the Northeast Fisheries Science Center work together to calculate the observer set-aside compensation rate for fishing year 2023.
New England/Mid-Atlantic
More Research
Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 04/11/2024
