New NOAA Scallop Management Plan

NOAA Fisheries is currently reviewing several new management measures developed by the New England Fishery Management Council. It includes proposed reductions in quotas for the 2013 fishing year and has measures to protect young Atlantic sea scallops. Scallop industry representative Peter Hughes of Atlantic Cape Fisheries says that they have a long term vision for scallops and they are confident in their research surveys that shows there's an abundance of young scallops in the Mid Atlantic in 2012.

In an NOAA press release he added in the near term the industry is going to have to tighten its belts to give the young scallops a chance to grow to marketable size in order to maximize revenues and ensure sustainability.