Scallop Fishers May Get to Combine Permits, Hearings Included
Published Date: 11/3/2026
Notice
Summary
The Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office is hosting five public hearings this November and December to talk about a possible change to the Atlantic Sea Scallop rules. They’re thinking about letting scallop fishers combine permits to fish more efficiently. If approved, this could impact fishermen’s operations and the local seafood market, so everyone’s invited to share their thoughts by January 4, 2027.
Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 5 costs, 0 mixed.
Allow up to two scallop permits per vessel
NMFS is considering a Secretarial amendment that would allow up to two limited access Atlantic sea scallop permits to be combined (stacked) on a single vessel. If stacked, the vessel could fish the allocations for both permits (i.e., use both permits' fishing allocations).
May cut costs of maintaining multiple vessels
The notice states that allowing permit stacking could reduce business expenses associated with maintaining multiple vessels that have low days-at-sea (DAS) allocations. For context, NMFS notes that in fishing year 2026 a full-time vessel was allocated 36 open-area DAS and no access-area trips.
Potential for consolidation and job losses
NMFS acknowledges that permit stacking could cause fleet consolidation, job loss, and effort spillover into other fisheries, and says these risks would be evaluated. These outcomes could affect crew members and local fishing communities.
Ownership cap of no more than 5% retained
As a protective measure, NMFS would maintain an ownership cap that limits any single owner to holding no more than 5 percent of the total number of limited access scallop permits.
Stacking limited to same access category
Any potential amendment under consideration would evaluate limiting permit stacking to permits within the same Limited Access category (for example: full-time, part-time, or occasional permits).
Stacking would be permanent (no de-stacking)
The potential amendment would consider making stacking a one-time, permanent, and irreversible action (i.e., prohibiting de-stacking), meaning once two permits are combined they could not later be separated.
Must respect vessel baseline size and power limits
NMFS would consider restricting stacking so it strictly respects existing vessel baseline restrictions on length, tonnage, and horsepower, preventing a smaller-baseline permit from being stacked onto a vessel with larger baselines to bypass vessel replacement limits.
Stacking limited to common ownership or control
The agency would consider narrowing allowable permit stacking so it applies only to vessels under common ownership or common control, intended to avoid fleet concentration and support active owner-operators.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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