The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has announced the closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area for the rest of the 2025 fishing year. This decision is made because the allocated amount of scallops, known as the Set-Aside, has been fully harvested. During this closure, boats with federal permits cannot fish for, keep, or bring scallops from this area unless they're fishing in state waters under specific conditions. The rule is implemented immediately to prevent overfishing and ensure future scallop populations remain healthy.
Simple Explanation
The National Marine Fisheries Service has temporarily stopped fishing for scallops in a specific area because they've caught as many as they're allowed to for this year. This pause is to make sure there are still plenty of scallops in the future.