Opportunity
Federal Register #2026-07187
NOAA Closure of Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Area for 2026
Posted
April 14, 2026
Identifier
2026-07187
This notice announces a regulatory action by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) affecting scallop fishing in the Northern Gulf of Maine. - Government Buyer: - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce - National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Sustainable Fisheries - Scope of Action: - Temporary closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) Scallop Management Area to all federally permitted Limited Access General Category (LAGC) scallop vessels for the remainder of the 2026 fishing year - Closure is triggered when 100% of the NGOM Set-Aside is projected to be harvested - Vessels with valid Maine or Massachusetts state scallop permits may continue to fish in state waters under approved exemption programs - Products/Services Requested: - No products or commercial services are being procured; this is a regulatory closure, not a procurement opportunity - Unique Requirements: - Applies only to federally permitted LAGC scallop vessels - Exemptions for vessels operating exclusively in state waters under specific state permits - Aimed at preventing overharvest and conserving scallop stocks - OEMs and Vendors: - No OEMs or vendors are mentioned, as this is not a procurement action - Place of Performance: - Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area - Maine state waters (for exempted vessels) - Massachusetts state waters (for exempted vessels)
Description
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) Scallop Management Area for the remainder of the 2026 fishing year to Limited Access General Category (LAGC) vessels. This closure is mandated once NMFS projects that 100% of the NGOM Set-Aside will be harvested, aiming to prevent overharvest. The closure is effective from April 13, 2026, through March 31, 2027, and allows vessels with valid state permits to fish in state waters under specific exemptions.