IMPORTANT: The New England Fishery Management Council took final action on Framework 39 on December 5, 2024. If NMFS approves the Council’s recommendations contained in Framework 39, NMFS will provide public notification prior to implementation. The Council’s recommended Framework 39 measures have been provided alongside the 2025 default measures for reference.
Measures for Limited Access General Category (LAGC) Scallop Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Vessels
Fishing Year 2025 Allocations
The 2025 default LAGC fleet allocations for IFQ vessels, listed below, are effective on April 1, 2025. The Council’s recommended allocations in Framework 39 are included for reference. A letter providing your vessel’s 2025 IFQ allocation under default measures and under Framework 39, will be available on your Fish Online account. This letter will include information on your carryover IFQ from 2024 as well. Note that the 2025 IFQ allocations contained in Framework 39 are lower than those established under default 2025 measures.
Fishing Year 2025 LAGC Fleet Allocations
Default Measures (April 1, 2025) | Framework 39 Measures (Council Recommended) | |
| LAGC IFQ only | 959,755 lb | 901,636 lb |
| LAGC IFQ with Limited Access Permit | 95,975 lb | 90,163 lb |
Fishing Year 2025 Default Access Area Trip Allocations for the LAGC IFQ Scallop Fleet
There are no access area trips allocated under 2025 default measures for the LAGC IFQ fleet. The table below includes the 2025 default measures effective on April 1, 2025, along with the Council’s recommended allocations under Framework 39 that, if approved, would replace the default measures.
Fishing Year 2025 LAGC Access Area Trips
| Scallop Access Area | Default Measures (April 1, 2025) | Framework 39 Measures (Council Recommended) |
| Area I/Area II | 0 | 571 |
| Total | 0 | 571 |
LAGC Incidental Scallop Target Total Allowable Catach (TAC)
Under default measures, the incidental scallop target TAC for 2025 is 50,000 lb. Vessels issued an LAGC Incidental Catch scallop permit may land up to 40 lb shucked or 333 lb of in-shell scallops per trip. This would remain unchanged under the Council’s recommended Framework 39 measures, if approved.
Measures for Limited Access Scallop Vessels
Access Area Allocations
Under 2025 default measures, there are no access area trips allocated to the Limited Access fleet. The tables below include the 2025 default access area allocations for limited access vessels effective on April 1, 2025, along with the Council’s recommended Framework 39 allocations that, if approved, would replace the default measures.
Fishing Year 2025 Full-Time Limited Access Scallop Access Area Allocations
| Rotational Access Area | Default Measures (April 1, 2025) | Framework 39 (Council Recommended) |
| Area I | 0 lb | 12,000 lb |
| Area II | 0 lb | 12,000 lb |
| Total | 0 lb | 24,000 lb |
Fishing Year 2025 Part-Time Limited Access Scallop Access Area Allocations
| Rotational Access Area | Default Measures (April 1, 2025) | Framework 39 (Council Recommended) |
| Area I/Area II | 0 lb | 9,600 lb |
| Total | 0 lb | 9,600 lb |
Fishing Year 2024 Access Area Carryover
Area II Carryover: Beginning April 1, 2025, through July 13, 2025, limited access vessels may fish their remaining unharvested 2024 Area II access area scallop allocation. These trips must begin no later than July 13, 2025. After that date, any unused 2024 access area allocation expires.
New York Bight Carryover: Beginning April 1, 2025, through May 30, 2025, limited access vessels may fish their remaining unharvested 2024 New York Bight access area scallop allocation. These trips must begin no later than May 30, 2025. After that date, any unused 2024 access area allocation expires.
Limited Access Open Area Days at Sea (DAS) Allocations
The 2025 default DAS allocations for limited access vessels, listed below, become effective on April 1, 2025. Also included are the Council’s recommended allocations under Framework 39 that, if approved, would replace the April 1, 2025, measures.
Default Measures* (April 1, 2025) | Framework 39 Measures* (Council Recommended) | |
| Full-Time | 15 | 24 |
| Part-Time | 6 | 9.6 |
*Allocations exclude any carryover DAS from 2024.
Fishing Year 2024 DAS Carryover
Vessels can carry over a maximum of 10 unused DAS from fishing year 2024 and may fish those in addition to the 2025 default DAS allocation. As of April 1, 2025, any unused 2024 DAS exceeding the maximum carryover of 10 DAS will be forfeited.
Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) Vessels
Under 2025 default measures, the NGOM total allowable landings (TAL) is 346,996 lb for fishing year 2025. The table below includes fishery landing limits for NGOM vessels under default measures, April 1, 2025, and landing limits if Framework 39 is approved.
Fishing Year 2025 NGOM Scallop Fishery Landing Limits
Default Measures (April 1, 2025) | Framework 39 Measures (Council recommended) | |
| NGOM TAL | 346,996 lb | 712,093 lb |
| 1 percent NGOM ABC for Observers | 6,548 lb | 11,530 lb |
| Research Set-aside Contribution | 25,000 lb | 25,000 lb |
| NGOM Set-Aside | 315,449 lb | 675,563 lb |
| NGOM Annual Projected Landings (APL) | (*) | (*) |
* NGOM APL is set when the NGOM Set-Aside is above 800,000 lb.
Research Set Aside (RSA)
Under default measures, harvesting of RSA compensation by participating vessels is prohibited in all access areas. Beginning on April 1, 2025, vessels may only harvest RSA compensation from areas open to Limited Access DAS fishing and up to 25,000 lb of RSA harvest in the Northern Gulf of Maine Management Unit. If a vessel is fishing on an RSA trip in Area II access area, it must exit the area prior to 00:01 on April 1, 2025.
Please note that beginning in fishing year 2025 and continuing into the future, combination RSA/commercial trips in access areas will be prohibited.
REMINDERS!
PTNS Compliance
As a reminder, scallop vessel owners/operators are required to notify NOAA Fisheries of their intent to fish using the Pre-Trip Notification System (PTNS). Vessels can log into the PTNS website with their individual Fish Online username and password or call the PTNS phone number to notify. Vessels can submit a notification anytime between 10 days and 48 hours before the intended sail date and edit notification details directly on the PTNS website. If notifying for a trip with FY24 carryover pounds, please select "Rollover Pounds" from the dropdown under the "Exemption" field. For PTNS updates and notification questions, please call 855-347-4371 or email nefsc.ptns@noaa.gov.
Resources:
- PTNS Scallop Vessel User Guide (PDF, 18 pages)
- PTNS Frequently Asked Questions (PDF, 10 pages)
- Instructional video
- Survival Craft Requirements Regarding Capacity
Observer Compensation Rates
Set-Aside Compensation
Until the observer compensation rates for the 2025 fishing year are finalized, the current observer compensation rates will remain the same. 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.
If you have any questions, please contact Emily Keiley at (978) 281-9116.
