Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits
Published Date: 7/27/2026
Notice
Summary
The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) application contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. The EFP would allow federally permitted fishing vessels to fish outside fishery regulations in support of exempted fishing activities proposed by Coonamessett Farm Foundation (CFF). Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed EFPs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Alternative DAS counting per trip
If approved, the six participating scallop vessels would count days-at-sea (DAS) from the time their dredge(s) first enter the ocean to when their dredge(s) last leave, instead of from crossing the VMS demarcation line. In a prior 36-trip pilot this alternative reduced DAS from 259.75 to 217.3 (a difference of 42.45 DAS), averaging 1.18 fewer DAS per trip; CFF expects 24 trips per year per vessel and estimates 28.32 DAS could be freed up to apply to other trips. NMFS allocated 11,023 DAS for fishing year 2026, and the EFP could increase maximum fleetwide DAS use by about 0.26 percent for the year.
Allowed transit through closed scallop areas
The EFP would let the six participating vessels continuously transit through Scallop Rotational Areas that are closed to fishing during the project, provided they do not fish and stow their gear. Allowing transit would let vessels take more direct routes to fishing grounds (the applicant expects mainly Nantucket Lightship-North and -South access areas), which could reduce fuel costs and potentially lower DAS used.
Exemptions intended to offset EM costs
The notice states the two exemptions (alternative DAS calculation and transit of closed areas) are offered as incentives so participating vessels can recoup electronic monitoring (EM) system installation and maintenance costs and to encourage continued participation in the EM program. The project involves six limited access commercial scallop vessels, 48 trips total (24 trips per year for 2 years), and EM data collection procedures during the project period.
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