NOAA opens scoping on letting Atlantic sea scallop permits stack, with hearings from Boston to New Bedford

NOAA Fisheries' Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office published a Federal Register notice on Nov. 3 opening scoping on a possible Secretarial amendment for the Atlantic sea scallop fishery. The amendment would allow permit stacking, meaning up to two limited-access scallop permits could be held on one vessel.

The idea came out of public comments gathered under Executive Order 14276. Industry members point to excess capacity and crowded ports. In 2026, full-time vessels got 36 open-area days at sea and no access-area trips. Safeguards under consideration include stacking only within the same permit category, making stacks permanent with no de-stacking, keeping vessel baseline limits, requiring common ownership and keeping the 5 percent ownership cap.

There are five hearings. Two are in person in Boston, on Nov. 17 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn Boston Logan, and in New Bedford, on Dec. 14 from 1 to 3 p.m. at UMass Dartmouth SMAST East. One is at the Barnegat Light, N.J., Volunteer Fire Department on Dec. 3 from 4 to 6 p.m. The two webinars are Nov. 23 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Dec. 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. Written comments are due Jan. 4, 2027, under docket NOAA-NMFS-2026-3136.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: Federal Register: Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office; Public Hearings (Nov. 3, 2026). See also NOAA Fisheries' action page.