BOSTON — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has issued a reminder to fishermen that the inside ring size of scallop dredges must be 3 1/2 inches, effective Jan. 1.
Andy Rosenberg, NOAA’s northeast regional director, said the new minimum affects all scallop dredge vessels fishing for, or in possession of, more than 40 pounds of shucked scallops. It also affects all scallop dredge vessels with federal scallop permits fishing under the days-at-sea program.
The new regulation does not apply to hydraulic clam dredges, nor quahog dredges in possession of 400 or fewer pounds of scallops. Vessels operating under the state waters scallop exemption program in states with smaller minimum ring-size restrictions also are exempt from the requirement.
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