New measures for limited access vessels implemented through Framework Adjustment 39 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan and a summary of how they may affect fishing plans and activities for the 2025 fishing year. All measures will be effective on April 21, 2025, and replace the default measures that have been in effect since April 1.
The following information describes new measures implemented through Framework 39 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan and a summary of how they may affect your fishing plans and activities for the 2025 fishing year. We have also included reminders of some current requirements.
2025 Days-At-Sea (DAS) Allocations
Scallop Open Area DAS Allocations
Permit Category | 2025 DAS |
Full-Time | 24 |
Part-Time | 9.6 |
Fishing Year 2025 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
Rotational access area | Scallop per trip possession limit | 2025 Scallop allocation |
Area I | 12,000 lb | 12,000 lb |
Area II | 12,000 lb | 12,000 lb |
Total |
| 24,000 lb |
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 I and Area II). 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 39 implements a new access area possession limit of 9,600 lb for part-time limited access vessels.**
Part-Time Vessel Access Area Allocations and Trip Possession Limits
Rotational access area | Scallop per trip possession limit | 2025 Scallop allocation |
Area I or Area II* | 9,600 lb per trip | 9,600 lb |
Total |
| 9,600 lb |
* Allocation can be fished in either Area I and/or Area II Access Areas.
Access Areas for Fishing Year 2025
Area I Access Area
Point | N Latitude | W Longitude |
AI1 | 40° 55.0´ | 68° 53.4´ |
AI2 | 41° 30.0´ | 69° 23.0´ |
AI3 | 41° 30.0´ | 68° 30.0´ |
AI4 | 40° 58.0´ | 68° 30.0´ |
AI1 | 40° 55.0´ | 68° 53.4´ |
Important: There is currently no VMS code for Area 1 for limited access vessels. Until further notice, limited access vessels must declare an Area 1 Access Area trip using the Mid-Atlantic Access Area code.
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* Delayed Access Area Opening
Framework 39 implements a delayed opening of the access areas (Area I and Area II). Effective April 21, 2025, Area I and Area II will be closed until May 15, 2025. All scallop fishing, including 2024 carryover access area trips in Area II, is now prohibited until 0001 hr May 15, 2025.
Any vessel that has declared a 2024 carryover trip into Area II, complied with all trip notification and observer requirements, and crossed the Vessel Monitoring System demarcation line on the way to the area before 0001 hr April 21, 2025 may complete the trip and retain and land scallops caught from the area.
At 0001 hr on May 15, 2025, fishing will be allowed in Access Area I and Access Area II. Area I will remain open for the rest of the 2025 fishing year (until March 31, 2026). Access Area II will remain open until November 15, 2025, when it will close for the rest of the 2025 fishing year.
Limited Access vessels have until July 13, 2025, to finish harvesting their previous year’s access area allocation in Area II.
Important Access Area Program Reminders
Crew Limits: Limited access vessels are restricted to eight individuals in the fishing year 2025 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.
Access Area Carryover
Area II: Limited access vessels may fish their remaining unharvested 2024 Area II access area scallop allocation through July 13, 2025. These trips must begin no later than 0001 hr on July 13, 2025. After that date, any unused 2024 access area allocation expires.
- A vessel can combine carryover trips and 2025 trips provided the vessel has 2024 allocation available in that area and it does not exceed the possession limit on any one trip. Vessels may not exceed the 12,000-lb possession limit on any trip landing both 2024 and 2025 allocation.
For example, if a full-time vessel has 2,000 lb of 2024 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 2025 Area II allocation.
New York Bight: Limited access vessels may fish their remaining unharvested 2024 New York Bight access area scallop allocation through May 30, 2025. These trips must begin no later than May 30, 2025. After that date, any unused 2025 access area allocation expires, and the New York Bight will revert to open bottom.
Full-Time Limited Access Vessels' One-for-One Access Area Allocation Exchanges
Framework 39 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
2025 Rotational Closures
The following areas are closed for scallop fishing year 2025 (see map above and coordinates below):
Nantucket Lightship Scallop Rotational Area (Closed)
Point | N Latitude | W Longitude |
NL1 | 40° 20.0´ | 69° 30.0´ |
NL2 | 40° 20.0´ | 68° 48.0´ |
NL3 | 40° 33.0´ | 68° 48.0´ |
NL4 | 40° 33.0´ | 69° 00.0´ |
NL5 | 40° 50.0´ | 68° 60.0´ |
NL6 | 40° 50.0´ | 69° 30.0´ |
NL1 | 40° 20.0´ | 69° 30.0´ |
Elephant Trunk Scallop Rotational Area (Closed)
Point | N Latitude | W Longitude |
ET1 | 38°50.0′ | 74°20.0′ |
ET2 | 38°50.0′ | 73°30′.0 |
ET3 | 38°10.0′ | 73°30.0′ |
ET4 | 38°10.0′ | 74°20.0′ |
ET1 | 38°50.0′ | 74°20.0′ |
Additionally, Framework 39 reverts the New York Bight Scallop Rotational Area back to the open area on May 31, 2025.
Area II Seasonal Closure to Mitigate Flatfish Bycatch
Framework 39 modifies the seasonal closure in Area II to reduce bycatch of northern windowpane flounder and Georges Bank yellowtail flounder. Area II will be closed from November 15, 2025 - May 15, 2026 for the 2025 fishing year.
Vessels are prohibited from being inside beginning at 0001 on November 15, 2025 through 0001 on May 15, 2026.
Northern Windowpane Flounder Accountability Measure Area Remains in Effect Fishing Year 2025
You are required to continue complying with the gear restrictions described below for fishing year 2025 (April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026). In fishing year 2023, the scallop fleet exceeded its sub-annual catch limit (ACL) for northern windowpane flounder by 263 percent.
Because the scallop fleet exceeded its northern windowpane flounder sub-ACL in fishing year 2023, the Georges Bank Accountability Measure Area remains a windowpane flounder gear restricted area through March 31, 2026. 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.
Gear Restrictions
When a vessel is subject to this gear restricted area, the vessel will be required to fish with dredges as follows:
- The maximum number of rows of rings in the apron of the topside does not exceed five rows; and
- The maximum hanging ratio for a net on the top of a scallop dredge (twine top) does not exceed 1.5:1 overall.
