November 3, 2026 - The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
Comment Period open through January 4, 2027
NOAA is committed to addressing the recent decline in fisheries landings and revenue, boosting sustainable aquaculture, reducing the seafood trade deficit, and strengthening supply chain resilience. After considering input from regional fishery management councils, the fishing industry, and the public, NOAA Fisheries sent Regional Priorities guidance in July 2026, providing the councils a clear roadmap of actions to support the goals of the Executive Order on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness. To complement that guidance, NOAA Fisheries applied the same standard of accountability and results to its own work and announced agency-level actions in support of the EO.
Based on comments received in response to Executive Order 14276, the Secretary of Commerce is considering whether to develop an amendment to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan to allow permit stacking in the limited access scallop fishery. This is an important step in fulfilling the EO’s mandate to reduce burdens on domestic fishing and enhance economic profitability. The Secretary is considering addressing excess capacity in the limited access scallop fishery by allowing two Limited Access scallop permits within the same category and under common ownership or control to be combined on a single vessel. The vessel would be permitted to fish the allocations for both permits, which would reduce business expenses associated with maintaining multiple vessels with low days-at-sea allocations.
NOAA Fisheries will hold five public hearings in November and December 2026 to solicit public comment on this potential Secretarial amendment to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan. The public hearing schedule is as follows:
Boston, Massachusetts
November 17 *4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Hilton Garden Inn Boston Logan Airport, 100 Boardman St., Boston, MA 02128
(*Note: The time of this Scoping Meeting is approximate and will begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of the Joint Scallop Committee and Advisory Panel Meeting)
Please register here.
Webinar
November 23, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Join the webinar here.
Please register here.
Barnegat, New Jersey
December 3, 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Barnegat Light Volunteer Fire Department, 907 Central Ave, Barnegat Light, NJ 08006
Please register here.
Webinar
December 7, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Join the webinar here.
Please register here.
New Bedford, Massachusetts
December 14, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth School for Marine Science and Technology East
836 South Rodney French Blvd., New Bedford, MA 02744
Please register here.
NOAA Fisheries is also soliciting written scoping comments on this topic through January 4, 2027.
To access the scoping document and meeting details, please visit the scallop stacking page.
Questions?
Fishermen: nmfs.gar.scallopstacking@noaa.gov or Emily Keiley, Sustainable Fisheries, (978) 281-9116
Media: Contact GARFO Public Affairs