13-188-11 Me. Code R. § 08

Current through 2024-25, June 19, 2024
Section 188-11-08 - Targeted Scallop Conservation Closures

Targeted closures are imposed as conservation measures to assist in rebuilding specific areas of the state. Targeted closures may be implemented based on depletion, seed, the presence of spat-producing scallops, and other conservation factors as determined by the Commissioner. Targeted closures are not seasonal closures and are implemented in order to improve and enhance the conservation and rebuilding of the resource in these specific areas.

It shall be unlawful to fish for, take, or possess scallops taken by any method within any of the following closed areas.

Transiting exception:

Any vessel possessing scallops onboard, may transit these targeted closures 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.

1. Lower Muscle Ridge

Northern boundary: East and South of a line beginning at the most eastern tip of Whitehead Island, St. George, to the southern tip of Seal Island (Hay Ledges) continuing to the most southwestern point of Graffam Island, then continuing to the southwestern point of Pleasant Island and continuing in a southeasterly direction to the northeastern tip of Two Bush Island.

Southern boundary: North of a line starting at the most southern point of Whitehead Island, St. George, to the southern end of Two Bush Island.

2. Eastern Casco Bay

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.

Western boundary: East and North of a line draw from R N "2" at Eastern Drunkers Ledge to the most southern tip of Jaquish Island; then east of a line from the most northwestern tip of Jaquish Island at Latitude 43º 42.950N Longitude 70º 00.137W to the most southeastern tip of land along Jaquish Gut at Latitude 43º 43.043N Longitude 70º 00.128W.

3. Upper Sheepscot River

Western boundary: East of a line drawn from the most southern tip of Hockomock Point, Woolwich to the most northern tip of Mill Point, Arrowsic Island, and following the shoreline to the Arrowsic Island-Georgetown Island bridge, and then continuing along the northern coastline to the northeast tip of Dry Point, Georgetown Island.

Eastern boundary: West 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 Kehail Point running northeasterly to the most southern point of Barters Island and continuing southeasterly to the most northwestern tip of Sawyer Island.

4. New Meadows River

Southeast boundary: North of a line drawn from the southernmost tip of Birch Point, Phippsburg, to the southernmost tip of Long Island, Harpswell, then continuing along the western coastline to the northern tip of Long Island, Harpswell, then a line drawn due west to the nearest point of land on Sebascodegan Island, Harpswell.

Southwestern boundary: North of the Route 24 Gurnet Bridge (Harpswell).

5. Card Cove

West of a line drawn from the southeastern most tip of Pinkham Point, Harpswell, in a southwesterly direction to the nearest point of land and to include all of Card Cove, Harpswell.

6. Beals-Jonesport Bridge

Eastern boundary: West of a line drawn from the most eastern tip of Perio Point, Beals to OW Look's wharf, Jonesport.

Western boundary: East of the Jonesport-Beals Bridge.

7. Green Island/The Brothers

Inside a line starting at the southwestern tip of The Brothers Island, running along the southern shore to the northeastern tip of The Brothers Island, then running northeasterly to the green buoy (G"1" Bell), continuing northwest to the red buoy (RN"2"), continuing westerly to the eastern tip of Green Island and running along the north shore of Green Island to the western tip of Green Island, and then running southerly to meet the southwestern tip of The Brothers Island

8. Roque Island Harbor & Little Kennebec Bay within Englishman Bay Rotational Area

Southern boundary. North of a line starting at the eastern tip of Great Spruce Island, and continuing easterly to the western tip of The Brothers, running along the southern shore to the eastern tip of The Brothers then continuing northeasterly to the green buoy (G"1" Bell), then running north to the southern tip of Hickey Island and continuing east to Point of Main, Machiasport.

9. Harrington River within Addison Rotational Area

Southern boundary: North of a line beginning at the eastern tip on the southern shore of Northeast Cove, Dyer Island, and running easterly to Red Nun 4, then continuing on to Red Nun 2, and continuing northeasterly to the southern tip of Narrows Island, running north along the eastern shoreline to the northern tip of Narrows Island and running to the eastern tip of Willard Point, Ripley Neck.

13-188 C.M.R. ch. 11, § 08

The amended version of this section by filing 2024-020, eff. 1/28/2024 is not yet available.