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Sea Urchins

*Attention all Commercial Scallop Harvesters: *

The Maine Department of Marine Resources has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for:?

Chapter 11 Scallops; 2023-2024 Season [ [link removed] ]

A hybrid public hearing [ [link removed] ] has been scheduled for Thursday, October 5, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. located in the DMR Conference Room 118, Marquardt Building, 32 Blossom lane, Augusta ME and remotely via Microsoft Teams.

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*Chapter 11 Scallops; 2022-2023 Season*

BRIEF SUMMARY:

This proposed rule-making establishes the 2023-2024 scallop fishing season. Daily possession limits of 15 gallons for Zone 1 and Zone 2, and 10 gallons for Zone 3 remain unchanged. For Zone 1, a 60-day season for draggers would begin on December 11, 2023 and the last day of the season would be March 21, 2024. For Zone 1, a 60-day season for divers would start on December 5, 2023 and the last day of the season would be April 27, 2024. For Zone 2, a 70-day season for draggers would start on December 1, 2023 and the last day of the season would be March 27, 2024. For Zone 2, a 70-day season for divers would start on November 16, 2023 and the last day of the season would be April 20, 2024. For Zone 3, a 50-day season for draggers would begin on December 4, 2023 and the last day of the season would be March 28, 2024. For Zone 3, a 50-day season for divers would begin on December 7, 2023 and the last day of the season would be March 30, 2024.

DMR proposes to re-establish limited access status for the Sheepscot and Damariscotta Rivers. DMR would maintain existing Limited Access Areas: W. Casco Bay, Muscle Ridge, Whiting and Denny?s Bays. Additionally, the following existing targeted closures based on depletion, high concentrations of seed/sublegal scallops and/or the presence of spat-producing scallops would be maintained: Lower Muscle Ridge, Upper Sheepscot River, New Meadows River, Card Cove and Beals-Jonesport Bridge. Western Penobscot Bay would be open for harvest based on Zone 1 harvest days.

Harvesting of scallops by hand (diving) is restricted to Rotation C (Third) only for the 2023-2024 season. Harvesting for scallops by dredge gear is restricted to Rotation A (First) only for the 2023-2024 season. Rotation B is closed to all harvest. A new juvenile conservation closure, Green Island/The Brothers, in the Englishmen?s/Kennebec River Rotational Area in Zone 2 is proposed for the 2023-2024 season. This rulemaking also proposes to split the Lower Penobscot Rotational Area, creating an annual open harvest based on Zone 2 calendars for state waters that surround Matinicus and outer islands in Zone 2. Lastly, this rule-making proposes to allow scallop harvest to begin starting ? hour before Augusta sunrise.

Date, time and location of _PUBLIC HEARING_ (if any):?October 5, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. ? DMR Conference Room 118, Marquardt Building, 32 Blossom lane, Augusta ME and remotely via Microsoft Teams. Remote access information is posted to [link removed] under meetings. ?

*COMMENT DEADLINE: October 16, 2023?*

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*How to comment:*?

1. Send an email to: [email protected]

2. Mail a written letter to: Deirdre Gilbert, 21 State House Station, Augusta Maine 04333-0021

3. Fax your letter to 207-624-6024?

4. Attend the public hearings in person or remotely to offer oral testimony on the proposed rulemaking.?

Any questions related to the proposed rulemaking and the scallop fishery, please contact Melissa Smith at [email protected] or 207-441-5040.?

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* CH11 MAPA-3 2023-2024 Season.pdf [ [link removed] ]

Fair winds to you and yours,?

*Melissa D. Smith*
Marine Resource Management Coordinator
Maine Department of Marine Resources
21 State House Station, 32 Blossom Lane
Augusta, ME 04333-0021
*Updated Contact: (207) 441-5040*

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This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Maine Department of Marine Resources?? 21 State House Station ? Augusta, ME 04333-0021? 207-624-6550 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]