MAINE, USA — Select scallop management areas in the state will be subject to an emergency conservation closure on Sunday, Feb. 19.
The Maine Department of Marine Resources said Thursday the emergency closures are due to concerns about scallop resource depletion.
"The Department is concerned that continued harvesting for the remainder of the 2022-2023 fishing season in these areas will reduce scallop broodstock further ... An immediate conservation closure is necessary to reduce the risk of unusual damage and imminent depletion of the scallop resource in four important scallop harvest areas," the department said.
The following scallop management areas will close Sunday:
- Cobscook, Whiting, and Dennys Bays
- Exception: Whiting/Dennys LAA will remain open for drag harvest only on Monday, Feb. 20
- St. Croix River, north of Kendall Head, will remain open until further notice
- Narraguagus/Pigeon Hill Rotational Area
- Lower Blue Hill Bay/Jericho Bay Rotational Area
You can view the status of all scallop management areas in Maine here.
