Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery; Closure of the Nantucket Lightship Scallop Access Area to General Category Scallop Vessels
NMFS announces that the 577 allowed trips for general category scallop vessels into the Nantucket Lightship Scallop Access Area (NLCA) are projected to be taken by 0001 hr local time, July 13, 2006. The area will be closed to general category vessels until it reopens on June 15, 2007. This action is being taken to prevent the allocation of general category trips in the NLCA from being exceeded during the 2006 fishing year in accordance with the regulations implemented under Framework 18 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.