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Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Management Plan

New England
Mid-Atlantic

About

The surfclam and ocean quahog fishery is managed under a fishery management plan (FMP) developed by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. With the exception of the Maine mahogany quahog fishery, the fishery has operated under an individual transferable quota (ITQ) management system since 1990. 

The principal gear used in the fishery is the hydraulic clam dredge, which uses jets of water to dislodge ocean quahogs and surfclams from sediments.

A smaller "dry" dredge (without hydraulic jets) is used in Maine waters to harvest Maine mahogany quahogs.

The mahogany quahog fishery off Maine is managed under a relatively small quota that is separate from the quota used to manage the ITQ fishery. Ocean quahogs off Maine are managed separately because of differences in biological, fishery, and market characteristics.

Implementing regulations are found at 50 CFR part 648 subpart E. Find out more about Managing Sustainable Fisheries in the Greater Atlantic Region.

Species Managed

Atlantic Surfclam Ocean Quahog

More Information

Actions

Current Recently Finalized Historical Actions

Final 2021 and Projected 2022-2026 Specifications for the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fisheries

NOAA Fisheries is setting 2021 and projecting 2022-2026 commercial harvest quotas for Atlantic surfclams and ocean quahogs. The final quotas, which have remained unchanged since 2004, are: Atlantic surfclams: 3.4 million bushels Ocean quahogs: 5.36…
Final Rule
,
New England
Mid-Atlantic
Effective
06/14/2021

Habitat Clam Dredge Exemption Framework

NOAA Fisheries is implementing the New England Fishery Management Council's Habitat Clam Dredge Exemption Framework Adjustment to its Fishery Management Plans. This final rule allows the surfclam fishery to operate hydraulic dredge gear year-round in…
Final Rule
,
New England
Mid-Atlantic
Effective
06/18/2020

Final Action to Close Nantucket Lightship and Closed Area I Closure Areas to Gillnet Gear

On October 28, 2019, Federal District Court Judge James E. Boasberg issued an Order and Opinion on a lawsuit challenging a portion of the New England Fishery Management Council’s Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat Amendment 2. The Order prohibits NOAA…
Final Rule
,
New England
Mid-Atlantic
Effective
12/17/2018

Final 2020 Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Commercial Fishery Specifications and Minimum Size Suspension for Atlantic Surfclams

NOAA Fisheries is implementing surfclam and ocean quahog quotas for the 2020 fishing year that we previously announced as projected on February 6, 2018.There have been no overages in 2019, and there is no new biological information, so we are now…
Final Rule
,
New England
Mid-Atlantic
Effective
01/01/2020

Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fisheries: 2019 Fishing Quotas and Suspension of Minimum Atlantic Surfclam Size Limit

NOAA Fisheries suspends the minimum size limit for Atlantic surfclams for the 2019 fishing year. NOAA Fisheries also announces that the quotas for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries for 2019 will remain status quo. Regulations governing…
Final Rule
,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Effective
01/01/2019

Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat Amendment 2

This action implements approved regulations for the New England Fishery Management Council's Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat Amendment 2. This rule revises essential fish habitat and habitat area of particular concern designations, revises or creates…
Final Rule
Effective
04/09/2018

Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery; 2018-2020 Fishing Quotas

This final rule implements status quo commercial quotas for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries for 2018 and projected status quo quotas for 2019 and 2020. This action is necessary to establish allowable harvest levels of Atlantic surfclams…
Final Rule
Published
02/06/2018

Last updated by Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office on 07/22/2021