Code of Maine Rules › 13 - DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES › 188 - MARINE RESOURCES - GENERAL › Chapter 11 - SCALLOPS › Section 188-11-09 - Limited Access Areas

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
It shall be unlawful to fish for, take, or possess scallops
				  taken by any method within any of the following Limited Access Areas except by
				  divers on December 7, 8, 9,14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28 and 29, 2023 in areas 1,
				  3, 4 and 5 in Zone 1; and, December 9, 16, 23, 30, 2023, January 6, 13, 20, 27,
				  2024, February 3, 10, 17, 24, 2024 and March 2, 9, 16, 23, 2024 in area 4 in
				  Zone 3. All directions are relative to True north (not magnetic).
It shall be unlawful to fish for, take, or possess scallops
				  taken by any method within any of the following Limited Access Areas except by
				  draggers on January 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2024, February 5, 12, 19, 26, 2024 and
				  March 4 and 11, 2024 in areas 1, 3, 4 and 5 in Zone 1; and December 4, 11, 18,
				  26, 2023, January 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2024, February 5, 12, 19, 26, 2024 and
				  March 4, 11, 18, 2024 in area 4 in Zone 3. All directions are relative to True
				  north (not magnetic).
Transiting exception:
Any vessel possessing scallops onboard, may transit these
				  Limited Access Areas, only if the vessel has all fishing gear (dredges, drags,
				  regulators, buoyancy compensators, fins, tanks, weight belts) securely stowed.
				  Securely stowed shall mean the main wire shall not be shackled or connected to
				  the dredges or drags, and the towing swivel will be at block or on the winch
				  for draggers, while regulators, buoyancy compensators and tanks should be
				  disconnected with fins and weight belts removed for divers.
The Commissioner may close harvesting for the remainder of
				  the season in the Limited Access Areas listed below though emergency rulemaking
				  if the Department has information that indicates there is a likelihood that
				  between 30 percent and 40 percent of the harvestable biomass has been
				  removed.
1. Western Casco Bay
Western boundary: South of a line drawn from the most
				  southwestern point of Basin Point (Harpswell) to the northern tip of Jewell
				  Island. Also, the waters between and to the north of Basin Point and Gun Point
				  bounded by the Route 24 Gurnet Bridge (Harpswell).
Eastern boundary: West and North of a line drawn from the
				  most southern tip of Gun Point, Harpswell, to G "3", South of Round Rock;
				  continuing in a southwesterly direction to R N "2" at Eastern Drunkers Ledge,
				  then continuing to the southeastern tip of Jewell island.
2. Whiting Bay and Denny's Bay Area:
It shall be unlawful to fish for or take scallops and or
				  urchins west of a line starting at the western end of Mahar Point, Pembroke,
				  due south to the nearest point of land on Crow Neck, Trescott, to include all
				  of Whiting Bay and Denny's Bay.
3. Muscle Ridge
Eastern boundary: West and South of a line drawn from the
				  most eastern tip of Ash Point, South Thomaston at Latitude 44º 02.805 N
				  Longitude 069º 04.393 W to RW "PA" Mo (A) GONG; then continuing southwest
				  to the northern tip of Two Bush Island.
Western boundary: North of a line starting at the northern
				  end of the Rackliff Island causeway then following the shore to the most
				  southern point of Rackliff Island continuing to the most southern point of
				  Norton Island and then continuing to the most southern point of Whitehead
				  Island then to the southern end of Two Bush Island.
4. Lower Sheepscot River
Eastern boundary: West and North of the Townsend Gut Bridge
				  connecting Southport Island and West Boothbay Harbor.
Northern boundary: South of a line drawn from the most
				  southern point of Kehail Point running northeasterly to the most southern point
				  of Barters Island and continuing southeasterly to the most northwestern tip of
				  Sawyer Island.
Western boundary: East of a line drawn at the most northern
				  tip of Soldier Point, Georgetown Island running north to the most southern tip
				  of Westport Island.
Southern boundary: North of a line drawn from the most
				  southern point of Outer Head Island at Griffith Head, Georgetown to the most
				  southern tip of Cape Island, Southport.
5. Damariscotta River
North of a line drawn from Emerson Point at the southern most
				  tip of Ocean Point in the town of Boothbay, easterly to Thrumcap Island, then
				  northerly to the southern tip of Rutherford Island, South
				  Bristol.