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Attention all Commercial Scallop Harvesters:
The Maine Department of Marine Resources has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for:
Chapter 11 Scallops; 2024-2025 Season
A hybrid public hearing has been scheduled for Monday, September 23, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. located in the DMR Conference Room 118, Marquardt Building, 32 Blossom lane, Augusta ME and remotely via Microsoft Teams. Teams link is posted on the DMR Homepage under meetings.
Chapter 11 Scallops; 2024-2025 Season
BRIEF SUMMARY:
This proposed rule-making establishes the 2024-2025 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 9, 2024 and the last day of the season would be March 20, 2025. For Zone 1, a 60-day season for divers would start on December 3, 2024 and the last day of the season would be April 26, 2025. For Zone 2, a 70-day season for draggers would start on December 2, 2024 and the last day of the season would be March 31, 2025. For Zone 2, a 70-day season for divers would start on November 19, 2024 and the last day of the season would be April 12, 2025. For Zone 3, a 50-day season for draggers would begin on December 2, 2024 and the last day of the season would be March 25, 2025. For Zone 3, a 50-day season for divers would begin on December 5, 2024 and the last day of the season would be March 29, 2025.
DMR would maintain existing limited access areas: W. Casco Bay, Muscle Ridge, Whiting and Denny’s Bays. Additionally, the following existing targeted closures would be maintained: Lower Muscle Ridge, Upper Sheepscot River, New Meadows River, Card Cove and Beals-Jonesport Bridge. Lower Sheepscot and Damariscotta Rivers in Zone 1 along with Upper Machias Bay, Moosabec Reach and Upper Cranberries in Zone 2 are new proposed targeted closures for recovery and rebuilding. Gouldsboro and Dyers Bay along with Upper Blue Hill Bay are proposed as new limited access areas.
Harvesting of scallops by hand (diving) is restricted to Rotation B (Second) only for the 2024-2025 season. Harvesting for scallops by dredge gear is restricted to Rotation C (Third) only for the 2023-2024 season. Rotation A is closed to all harvest.
Date, time and location of PUBLIC HEARING (if any): September 23, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. – DMR Conference Room 118, Marquardt Building, 32 Blossom lane, Augusta ME and remotely via Microsoft Teams. Remote access information is posted to https://www.maine.gov/dmr/home under meetings.
COMMENT DEADLINE: October 4, 2024
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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Meeting ID: 291 795 808 802
Passcode: nnH3Ly
Dial in by phone
+1 207-209-4724,,609701023# United States, Portland
Phone conference ID: 609 701 023#
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