2024 Fishing Year Limited Access Allocations for the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery

New measures for limited access vessels implemented through Framework Adjustment 38 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan and a summary of how they may affect fishing plans and activities for the 2024 fishing year. All measures will be effective on April 1, 2024, with the exception of the increase to the vessel monitoring system ping rate which will be effective April 22, 2024.

The following information describes new measures implemented through Framework 38 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan and a summary of how they may affect your fishing plans and activities for the 2024 fishing year. We have also included reminders of some current requirements.

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New Requirements

**Effective April 1, 2024** Prohibition on Transiting Scallop Rotational Areas and the Western Gulf of Maine Closure Area

To better enforce the Sea Scallop Rotational Area Management Program, Framework 38 prohibits all vessels fishing under a scallop declaration from entering or transiting any scallop rotational areas (unless the vessel is on a declared trip into that area, or otherwise specified) and the Western Gulf of Maine Closure Area. For fishing year 2024, the Area I and the Area I-Quad Scallop Rotational Areas will be corridors for continuous transiting, and transit will be permitted.

Continuous transit, for these purposes, means that a vessel has fishing gear stowed and not available for immediate use and travels through an area with a direct heading, consistent with navigational safety, while maintaining expeditious headway throughout the transit without loitering or delay.

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**Effective April 22, 2024** 5-minute Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) reporting on Federal Scallop Trips

Beginning on April 22, 2024, all scallop vessels with active VMS units will be subject to constant reporting at 5-minute intervals when seaward of the VMS demarcation line on a federal scallop declaration. When inshore of the VMS demarcation line, vessels will report at a 30-minute interval. The increased VMS reporting rate will not apply to vessels participating in state-waters scallop fisheries and excludes any scallop trip associated with the Scallop State Water Exemption Program. NOAA Fisheries encourages vessels to contact their VMS provider to determine the best service plan to meet their needs.

**Effective April 1, 2024** Pre-Trip Notification System

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 the PTNS 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 the Scallop PTNS webpage for 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

2024 Days-At-Sea (DAS) Allocations

Scallop Open Area DAS Allocations

2024 Rotational Closures

The following areas are closed for scallop fishing year 2024 (see map above and coordinates below):

• Area I (available for individual fishing quota trips)
• Area I-Quad
• Area I-Sliver
• Nantucket Lightship (expanded area)

Fishing Year 2024 Access Area Allocations

Full-time Access Area Allocations: The table below provides the limited access full-time allocations for all of the access areas, which can be taken in as many trips as needed, so long as you do not exceed the possession limit on each trip.

Full-Time Vessel Access Area Allocations and Trip Possession Limits

Part-time Vessel Access Area Allocations: The table below provides the limited access part-time allocations for access area trips.  Vessels may fish the allocation in either of the open access areas (i.e., Area II and New York Bight). These allocations can be landed in as many trips as needed, so long as a vessel does not exceed the possession limit or its available allocation on any one trip.

**Framework 38 implements a new access area possession limit of 14,400 lb for part-time limited access vessels.**

Part-Time Vessel Access Area Allocations and Trip Possession Limits

^* Allocation can be fished in either Area II and/or New York Bight Access Areas.

Northern Windowpane Flounder Accountability Measure Area Remains in Effect Fishing Year 2024

You are required to continue complying with the gear restrictions described below for fishing year 2024 (April 1, 2024, through March 31, 2025). In fishing year 2022, the scallop fleet exceeded its sub-annual catch limit (ACL) for northern windowpane flounder by 326 percent.  

Because the scallop fleet exceeded its northern windowpane flounder sub-ACL in fishing year 2022, the Georges Bank Accountability Measure Area remains a windowpane flounder gear restricted area through March 31, 2025. Dredge gear must meet the description below in the gear restricted area. In addition, vessels may not fish for scallops with trawl gear in the gear restricted area when the accountability measure is in effect.

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Gear Restriction

When a vessel is subject to this gear restricted area, the vessel will be required to fish with dredges as follows:

1. The maximum number of rows of rings in the apron of the topside does not exceed five rows; and
2. The maximum hanging ratio for a net on the top of a scallop dredge (twine top) does not exceed 1.5:1 overall.

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Area II Seasonal Closure to Mitigate Flatfish Bycatch

Framework 38 continues the existing seasonal closure in Area II to reduce bycatch of northern windowpane flounder and Georges Bank yellowtail flounder. For the 2024 fishing year, the seasonal closure in Area II will occur from August 15-November 15.

** Area II will be closed from August 15 - November 15 for the 2024 fishing year.**

Vessel are prohibited from being inside beginning at 0001 on August 15 through 0001 on November 16.

Research Set-Aside (RSA) Compensation Fishing

For the 2024 fishing year, RSA compensation fishing will be allowed in the open area and Area II. 

Access Area Carryover

Beginning April 1, 2024, and through the first 60 days of the fishing year, limited access vessels may fish their remaining unharvested 2023 access area scallop allocation. These trips must begin no later than May 30, 2024.  After that date, any unused 2023 access area allocation expires.

• Trips declared prior to April 1, 2024, fishing 2023 allocation may continue into the 2024 fishing year.
• A vessel can combine carryover trips and 2024 trips provided the vessel has 2023 allocation available in that area and it does not exceed the possession limit on any one trip. However, vessels may not exceed the 12,000-lb possession limit on any trip landing both 2023 and 2024 allocation.
  • For example, if a full-time vessel has 2,000 lb of 2023 Area II allocation remaining and it makes an Area II trip for 12,000 lb, total. The first 2,000 lb would come off of the 2023 Area II allocation, and the remaining 10,000 lb would come off of the 2024 Area II allocation.

Changes to the Full-Time Limited Access Vessels' One-for-One Access Area Allocation Exchanges

Framework 38 allows full-time limited access vessels to exchange access area allocation in 6,000-lb increments. The owner of a vessel issued a full-time limited access scallop permit may exchange unharvested scallop pounds allocated into an access area for another full-time limited access vessel's unharvested scallop pounds allocated into another access area. For example, a full-time vessel may exchange 6,000 lb from one access area for 6,000 lb allocated to another full-time vessel for another access area. Further, a full-time vessel may exchange 12,000 lb from one access area for 12,000 lb allocated to another full-time vessel for another access area. 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. Part-time vessels may not exchange access area allocations. The access area exchange form can be found here: Full time Access Area Exchange Form

Important Access Area Program Reminders

Crew Limits: Limited access vessels are restricted to eight individuals in the fishing year 2024 access areas, including the captain. Limited access vessels fishing in the small dredge program are limited to six individuals, including the captain. Crew limits for vessels on open area DAS trips remain at seven individuals for both full-time and part-time vessels and five individuals for small dredge vessels.

Reporting Requirements for All Scallop Trips: You need to submit a scallop pre-landing notification form through your VMS unit prior to returning to port at the end of each access area and DAS trip, including trips where no scallops are landed.

Access Area Allocation Monitoring: Although vessel owners are ultimately responsible for tracking their own scallop access area landings and ensuring they do not exceed their annual allocations, NOAA Fisheries will compile dealer-reported scallop landing records with access area trip declarations. The information will be available on the web-based allocation monitoring tool, Fish Online, which each vessel owner can access and review. If vessel owners/operators have questions about the data they are seeing in Fish Online then they should contact our Vessel Trip Reporting Office at (978) 281-9246. Questions on the accounting rules should be directed to the Sustainable Fisheries Division at (978) 281-9315.

Observer Program Updates:

Set-Aside Compensation

The access area compensation credit for limited access vessels is 250 lb per day, in addition to the vessel’s possession limit for each day or part of a day an observer is on board. The observer compensation credit can be harvested on a subsequent trip; however, you must remain within the trip’s possession limit when an observer is not onboard. The open area compensation rate for limited access vessels fishing under DAS is 0.12 DAS per DAS fished (the vessel is charged 0.88 DAS for each DAS fished with an observer onboard). We monitor the compensation rates and the observer set-aside use 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. 

Fishing Year 2024 Flatfish ACLs in the Scallop Fishery:

 *Proposed by the New England Fishery Management Council in Framework 66 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan

Other Reminders

Shell Stock Restrictions and changes to the shell-stock possession limits:

• Vessels may not possess more than 3,332 lb of in-shell scallops shoreward of the VMS demarcation line, unless fishing under the Scallop State Waters Exemption Program.
• A vessel declared into the Sea Scallop Access Area Program may not possess more than 3,332 lb of in-shell scallops outside of the access area.
• Vessels fishing in the Georges Bank paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) closure area may not retain in-shell scallops.

Scallop Pre-Landing Notification: You must send a VMS Scallop Pre-Landing Notification form on scallop trips at least 6 hours before arrival on the way back to port, or immediately after fishing ends if less than 6 hours before arrival Forms must include the:

• Operator’s permit number;
• Vessel trip report (VTR) serial number recorded from that trip's VTR;
• Estimated amount of scallop meats and/or bushels to be landed;
• Estimated time and date of arrival in port; and
• Port city and state at which the scallops will be landed.

Daily Scallop Catch Reports: Scallop catch reports are required to be submitted daily for vessels that fish for, possess, or retain scallops and not also fishing under a Northeast multispecies DAS or sector allocation. 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 9:00 a.m. local time each day for the previous day’s catch. Each report must include the:

• Operator’s permit number;
• VTR serial number;
• Date fish were caught;
• Total pounds of scallop meets kept; and
• Total pounds of all other fish kept.

Stellwagen Bank Historic Shipwreck Avoidance: NOAA Fisheries, in conjunction with NOAA Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Program, requests that vessels avoid shipwreck sites on southern Stellwagen Bank within the Sanctuary by keeping gear 400 feet away from each of the site locations listed below. For details on the location of the wrecks please visit the Stellwagen Bank Historic Shipwreck Avoidance Webpage

Protected Species Reminders:

Seasonal Turtle Chain Mat and Turtle Deflector Dredge (TDD) 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
• Gear Descriptions

Commercial Fishing Reporting of Protected Species Takes

Protected Species Handling and Resuscitation Requirements and Guidelines

Groundfish Possession Limits on Access Area Trips: Unless otherwise prohibited, limited access scallop vessels, also issued a valid groundfish permit, that have declared into a trip and that are fishing within the Sea Scallop Access Areas, may possess and land, per trip, up to a maximum of 1,000 lb of all groundfish combined.  Additionally, the restrictions for Atlantic cod, haddock, and yellowtail flounder are as follows:

• Atlantic cod - Vessels may possess up to 100 lb of Atlantic cod per trip, provided such fish is for personal use only (you cannot sell, trade, or barter cod caught from access areas).
• Haddock - Vessels may possess and land haddock up to the overall possession limit of all groundfish combined, except that vessels cannot possess or land haddock from January 1 through June 30.
• Yellowtail flounder - PROHIBITED

Groundfish Possession Limits on Scallop DAS Trips: Unless otherwise prohibited, limited access scallop vessels also issued a valid groundfish permit that have declared into the scallop DAS program may possess and land, per trip:

• Groundfish - A maximum of 300 lb of all species combined.
• Yellowtail flounder - PROHIBITED.

Fishing Year 2024 Rotational Area Coordinates

Access Areas for Fishing Year 2024

 Area II Access Area

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

Closed Areas Reverting to Open Area

Elephant Trunk

Closed Areas for Fishing Year 2024

Area I Scallop Rotational Area

Area I-Sliver Scallop Rotational Area

Area I-Quad Scallop Rotational Area

Nantucket Lightship Scallop Rotational Area

Georges Bank Accountability Measure Area

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.