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Attention all Commercial Scallop Harvesters:
The Maine Department of Marine Resources has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for:
Chapter 11 Scallops; 2025-2026 Season
A hybrid public hearing has been scheduled for Monday, October 6, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. located in the DMR Conference Room 118, Marquardt Building, 32 Blossom lane, Augusta ME and remotely via Microsoft Teams. Teams link is posted on the DMR Homepage under meetings.
Chapter 11 Scallops; 2025-2026 Season
BRIEF SUMMARY:
This proposed rule-making establishes the 2025-2026 scallop fishing season. Daily possession limits of 15 gallons for Zone 1 and Zone 2, and 10 gallons for Zone 3 remain unchanged. For Zone 1, a 60-day season for draggers would begin on December 8, 2025 and the last day of the season would be March 24, 2026. For Zone 1, a 60-day season for divers would start on December 3, 2025 and the last day of the season would be April 17, 2026. For Zone 2, a 70-day season for draggers would start on December 1, 2025 and the last day of the season would be March 31, 2026. For Zone 2, a 70-day season for divers would start on November 18, 2025 and the last day of the season would be April 18, 2026. For Zone 3, a 50-day season for draggers would begin on December 1, 2025 and the last day of the season would be March 25, 2026. For Zone 3, a 50-day season for divers would begin on December 4, 2025 and the last day of the season would be March 28, 2026.
DMR would maintain existing limited access areas: Muscle Ridge, and Whiting and Denny’s Bays. Additionally, the following existing targeted closures would be maintained: Lower Muscle Ridge, Upper Sheepscot River, New Meadows River, Card Cove and Beals-Jonesport Bridge. Proposed limited access areas include Outer Western Casco Bay, Sheepscot River, and Damariscotta River in Zone 1. Moosabec Reach and Upper Cranberries in Zone 2 are new proposed targeted closures for recovery and rebuilding.
Harvesting scallops by hand (diving) is restricted to Rotation A (First) only for the 2025-2026 season. Harvesting scallops by dredge gear is restricted to Rotation B (Second) only for the 2025-2026 season. Rotation C is closed to all harvest.
Date, time and location of PUBLIC HEARING (if any): October 6, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. – DMR Conference Room 118, Marquardt Building, 32 Blossom lane, Augusta ME and remotely via Microsoft Teams. Remote access information is posted to https://www.maine.gov/dmr/home under meetings.
COMMENT DEADLINE: October 17, 2025
How to comment:
1. Send an email to: [email protected]
2. Mail a written letter to: Deirdre Gilbert, 21 State House Station, Augusta Maine 04333-0021
3. Fax your letter to 207-624-6024
4. Attend the public hearings in person or remotely to offer oral testimony on the proposed rulemaking.
Any questions related to the proposed rulemaking and the scallop fishery, please contact Melissa Smith at [email protected] or 207-441-5040.
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+1 207-209-4724,,699138101# United States, Portland
Phone conference ID: 699 138 101#
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