National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration February 20, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS requests scallop research proposals to utilize total allowable catch (TAC) and Days-at-Sea (DAS) that have been set aside by the New England Fishery Management Council (Council) to fund scallop research endeavors under the 2008 Atlantic Sea Scallop Research Set- Aside Program (Scallop RSA Program). No Federal funds are provided for research under this notification. Rather, the Scallop RSA Program funds scallop research and compensates participating vessels through the sale of scallops harvested under the research set-aside quota. Priority will be given to research proposals that address the following research priorities as identified by NMFS and the Council: Intensive industry- based access area surveys; Other surveys, including areas not surveyed by the annual NMFS survey; Scallop biology; Identification and evaluation of methods to reduce groundfish bycatch; Identification and evaluation of methods to reduce habitat impacts; Habitat characterization research; Sea turtle/scallop fishery interaction research; Scallop stock assessment and population dynamics research; Area management research; and Research that will facilitate the transition of the NFMS Northeast scallop dredge survey.