New England and Mid-Atlantic Offshore Surf Clam and Quahog Dredge Fishery - MMPA List of Fisheries
U.S. fisheries are classified under the Marine Mammal Protection Act according to the level of interactions that result in incidental mortality or serious injury of marine mammals.
Current Classification on the List of Fisheries
Category |
III |
Estimated Number of Participants |
Unknown |
Target Species |
Surf clam, ocean quahog |
Applicable Take Reduction Plans |
None |
Observer Coverage |
Observer coverage is mandated by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation & Management Act. |
Marine Mammal Species/Stocks Killed or Injured |
None documented |
^ Number of participants estimates are based on state and federal fisheries permit data. The estimated number of participants is expressed in terms of the number of active participants in the fishery, when possible. If this information is not available, the estimated number of vessels or persons licensed for a particular fishery is provided. If no recent information is available on the number of participants, then the number from the most recent LOF is used. NOAA Fisheries acknowledges that, in some cases, these estimations may be inflating actual effort.
*Observer coverage levels include the latest information reported in the most current final Stock Assessment Report (SAR).
1 Indicates the stock or species is driving the classification of the fishery.
Basis for Current Classification
There are no documented marine mammal interactions.
Distribution
This fishery includes all offshore quahog and surf clam dredges operating from the Canada-Maine border through Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
Gear Description
Water is pumped onto the seafloor to clear sand and make target species more easily accessible. Target species are then caught in dredge which is pulled over the floor.
Management
Managed by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Surf Clam and Ocean Quahog FMP.
Historical Information
Original Category (Year added to the LOF) |
III (1989) |
Original Number of Participants |
100 |
Basis for Original Classification |
There are no documented marine mammal interactions |
Past Names |
“U.S. Mid-Atlantic Offshore Surf Clam and Quahog Dredge” and "Mid-Atlantic Offshore Clam" |
Species/stocks historically documented as killed or injured (but not currently on the list) |
N/A |
Timeline of Changes
2016 |
|
2011 |
|
1994 |
|