NMFS Publishes Final Scallop Framework for 2019, Quotas Very Similar to Last Year
NOAA has set specifications for the scallop fishery for fishing year 2019, including days-at-sea (DAS) allocations, individual fishing quotas (IFQs), and sea scallop access area trip allocations.
These allocations are similar to those set in the 2018 fishing year. NOAA also set out a very conservative catch limit for 2020, but this is not an outlook so much as a precautionary rule in the event the new 2020 allocations are not finalized by the start of the season, which often happens.
The rule has 7 trips to closed access areas, totaling 126,000 lbs per vessel in the full time limited access fishery. The possession limit remains at...
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