Surfclam Boats Seek Permit to Ditch Cages in Atlantic Waters
Published Date: 10/13/2026
Notice
Summary
Fishing boats with federal permits want special permission to fish in ways normally not allowed, like using certain gear in protected areas and offloading surfclams without cages. This change affects commercial fishers in the Greater Atlantic Region and opens a chance for public comments until October 28, 2026. No direct costs are mentioned, but this could impact fishing practices and local economies.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Access to Great South Channel HMA
The EFP application would exempt participating federally permitted vessels from the GSC Habitat Management Area dredge prohibition (50 CFR 648.370(h)), allowing 1-4 vessels to make up to 200 trips inside the Rose and Crown and Davis Bank East research exemption areas. The applicant requests the project start as soon as possible and run through March 31, 2029, with annual EFP renewal, and participating vessels could land up to the equivalent of 16 cages per trip.
Smaller Landing Units and Offload Exemption
The EFP application requests exemptions from offloading and cage-tag rules (50 CFR 648.14(j)(2)(iii), 648.14(j)(3)(vi), and 648.77(a)) so participating vessels may offload unshucked surfclams without industry-standard 32-bushel cages and use alternative landing containers: a 16-bushel fish vat or pallets of ten 1.5-bushel totes (1.5-bushel = 0.08 m3). The applicant would use one 16-bushel tag denomination (on a vat or pallet of totes) and work with GARFO and the National Band and Tag Company to convert tags.
EFP Data to Inform Council Review
The EFP would collect commercial productivity (bushels/hour), yield (pounds shucked per bushel), revenue-per-trip, and spatial-density data from approximately 400 total trips (about 200 test-area trips and 200 control-area trips). The applicant will produce an annualized fleet-level economic impact estimate of the GSC HMA restrictions and submit a final report to the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils and GARFO, which the Councils may use as part of an exemption area review that may consider changes in 2027.
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Key Dates
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