Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery: Default Management Measures for Fishing Year 2021

March 24, 2021

The following information describes default measures that will be implemented April 1, 2021, until Framework Adjustment 33 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan is implemented (if approved).

Bulletin |

New England/Mid-Atlantic

| New England

IMPORTANT: The New England Fishery Management Council voted on final 2021 allocations in Framework Adjustment 33 on January 27, 2021, and, if we approve the action, we will adjust scallop allocations in late-April or early-May 2021. We have noted these Framework 33 allocations throughout so you can consider these adjustments when planning your fishing activity between April 1 and the implementation of Framework 33.

Measures for Limited Access General Category (LAGC) Scallop Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Vessels

Fishing Year 2021 Allocations

The table below includes the default LAGC fleet allocations for IFQ vessels that become effective April 1, 2021, along with the allocations under Framework 33 that, if adopted, would replace the April 1, 2021, measures. A letter that specifies your vessel’s 2021 IFQ, which we set based on the allocations listed below, is available on your Fish Online. Your IFQ allocation letter will explain the details of setting your IFQ.

LAGC Fleet Allocations

April 1, 2021

FW 33

(if approved)

LAGC IFQ only

1,849,430 lb

1,903,581 lb

LAGC IFQ with Limited Access Permit

184,943 lb

190,359 lb

For more information about your vessel’s default and Framework 33 IFQ please visit your Fish Online account or see the 2021 IFQ Transfer Form.

IFQ Carryover

Vessel owners may carry over unused IFQ up to 15 percent of the vessel’s fishing year 2020 IFQ, including the original allocation and IFQ transferred from another vessel (leases or permanent allocation transfers). You will see any carryover adjustments on your Fish Online days at-sea (DAS) report.

Fishing Year 2021 Default Access Area Trip Allocations for the LAGC IFQ Scallop Fleet

The tables below includes the default access area trip allocations for LAGC IFQ fleet that become effective April 1, 2021, along with the allocations under Framework 33 that, if adopted, would replace the April 1, 2021, measures.

Scallop access area	April 1, 2021	Framework 33 (if approved)
Closed Area I	0	856
Nantucket Lightship-South-Deep	0	856
Mid-Atlantic	571	571
Total		2,283

LAGC Incidental Scallop Target TAC

The incidental scallop target TAC for fishing year 2021 is 50,000 lb. Vessels issued an LAGC Incidental Catch scallop permit may land up to 40 lb shucked or 5 bu in-shell scallops per trip.

Measures for Limited Access Scallop Vessels

Access Area Allocations

The tables below include the default access area allocations for limited access vessels that become effective April 1, 2021, along with the allocations under Framework 33 that, if adopted, would replace the April 1, 2021, measures.

Default and Framework 33 Full-Time Limited Access Scallop Access Area Allocations

Rotational access area	Possession limit	April 1, 2021	Framework 33 (if approved)
Closed Area II*	18,000 lb	0 lb	27,000 lb
Nantucket Lightship-South-Deep	18,000 lb	0 lb	27,000 lb
Mid-Atlantic	18,000 lb	18,000 lb	18,000 lb
Total		18,000 lb	72,000 lb

*The boundaries of Closed Area II would change after Framework 33 is implemented. Fishing year 2020 carryover trips into Closed Area II must take place entirely within the fishing year 2020 boundaries and fishing year 2021 would take place entirely within the 2021 boundaries. You cannot combine fishing year 2020 Closed Area II carryover trips and fishing year 2021 Closed Area II trips.

Default and Framework 33 Part-Time Limited Access Scallop Access Area Allocations

Rotational access area	Possession limit	April 1, 2021	Framework 33 (if approved)
Closed Area II or Nantucket Lightship-South-Deep	14,400 lb	0 lb	14,400 lb
Mid-Atlantic	14,400 lb	7,200 lb	14,400 lb
Total		7,200 lb	28,800 lb

Fishing Year 2020 Access Area Carryover

Beginning April 1, 2021, and through the first 60 days of the fishing year, limited access vessels may fish their remaining unharvested 2020 access area scallop allocation in any of the 2020 areas (i.e., Closed Area 2, Nantucket Lightship-North, Nantucket Lightship-South-Deep, and MAAA). These trips must begin no later than May 30, 2021. After that date, any unused 2020 access area allocation expires.

Crew Limits

Limited access vessels are restricted to eight individuals (10 individuals in Nantucket Lightship-South-Deep), including the captain. Limited access vessels fishing in the small dredge program are limited to six individuals (8 individuals in Nantucket Lightship-South-Deep), including the captain. Crew limits for vessels on open area trips remain at seven individuals and five individuals for small dredge vessels.

Limited Access Open Area Days at Sea (DAS) Allocations

The table below includes the default DAS allocations for limited access vessels that become effective April 1, 2021, along with the allocations under Framework 33 that, if adopted, would replace the April 1, 2021, measures

	April 1, 2021	Framework 33 (if approved)
Full-Time	18	24.0
Part-Time	7.2	9.6

*Allocations exclude carryover DAS

Note: You cannot exceed the April 1, 2021, DAS allocations unless and until we approve and implement Framework 33.

Fishing year 2020 DAS Carryover

At midnight on April 1, 2021, all limited access vessel (both full- and part-time) will switch over to 2021 default DAS allocations. Vessels can carryover a maximum of 10 DAS from 2020. At midnight, vessels will lose any DAS exceeding this 10 DAS limit. All other DAS will be added to the 2021 DAS allocation.

Shell Stock Restrictions

Vessels cannot possess more than 50 bu of in-shell scallops shoreward of the Vessel Monitoring System demarcation line.
A vessel declared into the Scallop Access Area Program may not possess more than 50 bu of in-shell scallops outside of the access area.

Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) Vessels

The table below includes the default NGOM total allowable catches (TAC) that becomes effective April 1, 2021, along with the NGOM TACs under Framework 33 that, if adopted, would replace the April 1, 2021, measures.

Surveys in the NGOM showed biomass lower than what the Council had originally projected when setting default measures for 2021 (Framework 32). Because of this, LAGC portion of the NGOM TAC in Framework 33 (119,222 lb) is lower than the default TAC (165,000 lb). If the NGOM fleet exceeds the Framework 33 TAC before the framework is implemented, any overage would result in a pound-for-pound accountability measure being triggered for the NGOM fishery in a future year.

Fleet	April 1, 2021 TAC	Framework 33 TAC
LAGC	167,500 lb	119,222 lb
Limited access	97,500 lb	52,500 lb
Total	265,000 lb	171,722 lb

Measures for Limited Access and LAGC Scallop Vessels

Turtle Deflector Dredge (TDD) and Turtle Chain Mat Requirements

All scallop vessels, except LAGC vessels using a dredge less than 10 feet 6 inches wide, must use a TDD in the Mid-Atlantic. In addition, all scallop vessels must use turtle chain mats. The season and area for both of these requirements is from May 1 through November 30 each year west of 71° W. long.

Industry-Funded Observer Set-Aside Compensation

The industry-funded observer program covers limited access vessels and LAGC IFQ vessels fishing in both open areas and in access areas. We will provide the observer compensation rates for each of these at a later date. The 2020 observer compensation rates apply until further notice.