Boundaries of Essential Fish Habitat Closures Reinstated

November 7, 2005

Release from:
NOAA

NOAA Fisheries Service has amended regulations for the Atlantic sea scallop fishery to adjust the boundaries of essential fish habitat (EFH) closures. The EFH closures were established by Framework 16 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and Framework 39 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP (Joint Frameworks 16/39) in order to reflect recent court orders in Oceana v. Evans. This final rule reinstates boundaries for EFH closures established by Amendment 10 to the Scallop FMP. It also revises the Scallop Access Area boundaries to be consistent with the redefined EFH closed areas. The effective date is November 3, 2005.

A map depicting multispecies and scallop habitat closed areas, as well as the revised scallop access areas, will be posted on the Northeast Region's Hot News Web site.

For more information, contact Peter.Christopher@noaa.gov.