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 2024-38, September 18, 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.
