Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Framework Adjustment 40 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan

NMFS approves and implements Framework Adjustment 40 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP) that establishes specifications for fishing years 2026 and 2027, including days-at-sea, limited access general category allocations, and modified area designations to optimize yield and to protect juvenile scallops. This action is necessary to prevent overfishing and improve resource yield-per-recruit and management of the fishery.