Scallop Fishers Get New Limits to Save Baby Clams
Published Date: 3/27/2026
Rule
Summary
Starting April 1, 2026, new rules will guide how many days scallop fishers can work and where they can fish to protect young scallops and keep the sea scallop population healthy. These changes affect fishermen in the Northeastern U.S. and aim to prevent overfishing while boosting scallop harvests in 2026 and 2027. If you fish scallops or follow the industry, get ready for updated limits and area changes that balance business and ocean care.
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
More Days-at-Sea for Scallop Vessels
Starting April 1, 2026, vessel-specific days-at-sea (DAS) allocations are set for limited access scallop permits: full-time vessels 36 DAS, part-time 14.4 DAS, occasional 3 DAS for 2026. Default 2027 DAS are set at 75 percent of 2026 (27, 10.8, and 2.25 DAS respectively).
Projected Industry Revenue Gains
NMFS projects Framework 40 will yield a $129 million cost savings compared to the default regulation and a $56 million (31 percent) increase in net revenues compared to the status quo for FY2026. Estimated limited access net scallop revenue under Framework 40 is $234.979 million (2024 dollars) and net revenue per entity is $1.792 million.
LAGC IFQ and ACL Allocations Set
Framework 40 sets LAGC IFQ ACLs at 1.325 million lb (601 mt) for 2026 and a default 1.484 million lb (673 mt) for 2027. Annual LAGC IFQ-only allocations based on APL are 853,189 lb for 2026 and 639,341 lb for 2027. Each vessel's IFQ will be calculated from these allocations.
Northern Gulf of Maine Landing Limits
For 2026, the NGOM total allowable landings (TAL) is set at 482,753 lb (218,973 kg) with a NGOM set-aside of 437,867 lb (198,613 kg); the 2027 default NGOM set-aside is 219,934 lb (99,760 kg). The 2026 NGOM set-aside is 69,196 lb lower than the 2026 default set-aside referenced in the rule.
Access Area and Rotational Area Changes
Framework 40 opens the Elephant Trunk area to open-area fishing beginning April 1, 2026, and converts Area I to open area after the 60-day carryover period (after May 30, 2026). Area II is closed and Nantucket Lightship-North and -South remain closed for 2026. The rule also specifies there are no scallop rotational areas available for continuous transit for 2026 and 2027 and no LAGC IFQ access area trip allocations for 2026 and 2027.
Research and Observer Set-Asides Affect Allocations
Framework 40 deducts 1.275 million lb (578 mt) annually for the Scallop Research Set-Aside (RSA) for 2026 and 2027 (482,631 lb of the 2026 RSA already allocated to prior multi-year projects). The observer set-aside is 282,192 lb (128 mt) for 2026 and 313,056 lb (142 mt) for 2027; vessels that carry an observer are allocated additional DAS or quota from the observer set-aside to help defray observer costs.
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