Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Framework Adjustment 8 Gear Restrictions

NMFS issues this final rule to implement measures contained in Framework Adjustment 8 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery (FMP). This rule expands the qualification criteria for limited access vessels fishing under the scallop days-at-sea (DAS) program to use trawl nets to include vessels with an engine of no greater than 450 horsepower that have used a scallop dredge on no more than 10 trips from January 1, 1988, through December 31, 1994. Presently, only vessels that have not used a scallop dredge after December 31, 1987, are qualified to use trawl nets to fish for scallops. The intent of this action is to allow certain limited access vessels that cannot practically use a dredge to fish for scallops to use trawl nets.