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Scallops

Good afternoon,??

Please be aware that DMR will implement emergency conservation closure(s) in the area(s) below, effective *Sund**ay,?January 28, 2024*:?


* Cobscook Bay
* _Exemption_: Whiting Dennys Bay LAA will be open for DRAG harvest on Monday, January 29th and February 4th, 2024 and for DIVE harvest on Saturday, February 3rd and February 10th, 2024.?

* Upper Englishman Bay RA
* Upper Addison RA
* Upper Frenchman Bay RA
* Toothacher and Upper Swans Island RA

The?Scallop Management Area Map [ [link removed] ] has been updated to reflect these closures. To view closures, zoom into the local area.

The?notice of emergency rulemaking [ [link removed] ] will be posted to DMR's website and is included in this notice below.

?

________________________________________________________________________

*NOTICE OF AGENCY EMERGENCY RULE-MAKING *

*AGENCY:????????? *Department of Marine Resources

*CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE:* Chapter 11.08, Targeted Closures: (8) Upper Englishman Bay Rotational Area; (9) Upper Addison Rotational Area; (10) Cobscook, Whiting & Dennys Bay; (11) Upper Frenchman Bay; (12) Toothacher and Upper Swans Island RA

*CONCISE SUMMARY: *
The Commissioner adopts this emergency rulemaking to establish scallop conservation closures in Cobscook, Whiting & Dennys Bay (Zone 3), Upper Frenchman Bay, Toothacher and Upper Swans Island rotational areas (RA) and expanded closures in Addison and Englishman Bay RA (Zone 2). The Department is concerned that continued harvesting for the remainder of the 2023-2024 fishing season in these areas will reduce scallop broodstock further, as well as jeopardize sublegal scallops that were observed in the 2023 Scallop surveys that are essential to the ongoing recruitment, regrowth and recovery of the scallop resource. An immediate conservation closure is necessary to reduce the risk of unusual damage and imminent depletion of the scallop resource in four important scallop harvest areas. For these reasons, the Commissioner hereby adopts an emergency closure of Maine?s scallop fishery in these areas as authorized by 12 M.R.S. ?6171(3)(A).

*EFFECTIVE DATE:* January 28, 2024

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Please do not reply to this email; the mail box is not monitored. For more information, I can be reached at [email protected] or 207-441-5040. Thank you!?


* Chapter11_ER01282024.pdf [ [link removed] ]
* Chapter 11.08 Emergency Rulemaking Targeted Closure 1.28.2024 final_WEB.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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________________________________________________________________________

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