The Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) Scallop Management Area will open on April 1, 2026.

Framework Adjustment 40 implements total allowable landings (TAL) in the NGOM of 482,753 lb for fishing year 2026. This action deducts 25,000 lb of scallops from the NGOM TAL to increase the overall Scallop Research Set-Aside (RSA) that funds scallop research. In addition, this action deducts one percent of the NGOM Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) from the NGOM TAL to support the Industry-Funded Scallop (IFS) Observer Program to help defray the cost to scallop vessels that carry an observer. The resulting 2026 NGOM set-aside is 437,867 lb.

NOAA Fisheries will be closely monitoring the fishery and will close the NGOM scallop fishery when the set-aside has been reached. NGOM quota monitoring reports will be available here .

NGOM Scallop Fishery Landing Limits for Fishing Year 2026

* NGOM APL is set when the NGOM Set-Aside is above 800,000 lb .

Possession limit

The possession limit to all vessels on a NGOM trip, unless otherwise increased due to observer coverage as noted below, is 200 lb/trip (1,666 lb shell stock/trip).

• The in-shell (shell stock) possession limit of scallops is a weight conversion (8.33 lb of in-shell scallops = 1 lb of scallop meats).
• Vessels issued an LAGC NGOM scallop permit and Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) vessels fishing in the NGOM may possess no more than 1,666 lb in-shell scallops shoreward of the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) demarcation line.

IFQ Requirement for IFQ Vessels

For IFQ vessels, all scallop harvest counts against your IFQ, regardless of where it is caught, including state waters and the NGOM. IFQ vessels must have IFQ quota available to fish.

Limited Access General Category Calendar Day Landing Restriction

IFQ and NGOM vessels may not land scallops more than once per calendar day. For example, a vessel that lands scallops on Monday may depart on a second trip on the same day it landed scallops (Monday), but cannot land scallops again until Tuesday.

Reminder: Prohibition on Transiting the Western Gulf of Maine Closure Area

All vessels fishing under a scallop declaration are prohibited from entering or transiting any scallop rotational areas, and the Western Gulf of Maine Closure Area.

Important Reporting Reminders

eVTR

All Limited Access scallop permit holders, including NGOM permits are required to maintain and submit electronic Vessel Trip Reports (eVTRs) for each trip. All effort and catch information must be entered into an approved eVTR system onboard the vessel prior to offloading catch. Completed eVTRs must be submitted within 48 hours after returning to port at the end of each trip. Information provided on the eVTR must be accurate, including the fishing location.

For additional information on eVTRs, and answers to frequently asked questions please visit this page .

Scallop Pre-Landing Notification

IFQ and NGOM vessels must send a VMS Scallop Pre-Landing Notification form at least 6 hours before arrival on the way back to port, or immediately after fishing ends if less than 6 hours before arrival. In addition, you must submit this form on trips that are not declared as scallop trips, but on which scallops are kept incidentally.

Forms must include the:

• Operator's permit number;
• Vessel trip report (VTR) serial number recorded from that trip's VTR;
• Estimated amount of scallop meats and/or bushels to be landed;
• Estimated time and date of arrival in port;
• Port city and state at which the scallops will be landed; and
• Whether any scallops were caught in the NGOM.

Observer Program Updates

Set-Aside Compensation

If NOAA Fisheries selects your vessel for an observed trip, and you are issued an observer, you will receive an observer compensation credit of 125 lb per trip if the observer set-aside has not been fully harvested. You can only fish those additional pounds on the observed trip above the regular possession limit of 200 lb/trip (i.e., 325 lb/trip total).

We monitor the compensation rates and observer set-aside use closely throughout the year. If a different rate is necessary to account for unexpected fishery conditions, we will change the compensation rate as appropriate and necessary.

Pre-Trip Notification System (PTNS)

Scallop vessel owners and operators are required to notify NOAA Fisheries of their intent to fish using the Pre-Trip Notification System (PTNS) instead of the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system.

The process allows vessels to enter their own notifications online using the PTNS website . Vessels are able to log into the PTNS website with their individual Fish Online username and password. This process serves as the primary means of trip notification and trip changes. Vessels can submit a notification anytime between 10 days and 48 hours before the intended trip, a decrease in the current 72-hour notification requirement.

Scallop permit holders are encouraged to visit the Scallop PTNS webpage for more details.

Resources:

Stellwagen Bank Historic Shipwreck Avoidance

NOAA Fisheries, in conjunction with NOAA Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Program, requests that vessels avoid shipwreck sites on southern Stellwagen Bank within the Sanctuary by keeping gear 400 feet away from each of the site locations listed below. For details on the location of the wrecks please visit the Stellwagen Bank Historic Shipwreck Avoidance Webpage .

This bulletin serves as a Small Entity Compliance Guide complying with section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996.