New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules
Fis - Executive Director, Fish and Game Department
Chapter Fis 600 - MARINE FISHING RULES
Part Fis 607 - RULES FOR CERTAIN SHELLFISH SPECIES
Section Fis 607.02 - Sea Scallops

Universal Citation: NH Admin Rules Fis 607.02

Current through Register No. 40, October 3, 2024

(a) For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply:

(1) "Chafing gear" means steel, rubberized, or other types of donut rings, disks, washers, twine, or other material attached to or between the steel rings of a sea scallop drag or dredge. The term includes "cookies";

(2) "Sweep chain" means a chain extending, usually in an arc, from one end of a scallop dredge frame to the other to which the ring bag, including the diamonds, is attached. The sweep forms the edge of the opening of the dredge bag; and

(3) "Club stick" means a ridged bar at the terminus of a scallop dredge attached to the rings.

(b) Taking of sea scallops (Placopecten magellanicus) from the waters under the jurisdiction of the state shall be prohibited from April 15 to October 31 by hand and from April 15 to November 30 by dredge.

(c) Scallops shall only be taken by hand or by dredge.

(d) The scallop dredge shall:

(1) Be no larger than 4 feet wide;

(2) Have a dredge ring size of 4 inches inside diameter;

(3) Have a minimum mesh size of 10 inches;

(4) Have no obstructions or liners attached; and

(5) Have no chafing gear or cookies on the top of the dredge.

(e) Any chafing gear located on the bottom of the dredge shall be halfway between the sweep chain and club stick and no larger than two rows of non-overlapping steel rings. The chafing gear may follow the contour arc of the sweep chain.

(f) No possession of other marine species including lobsters, finfish, or shellfish shall be allowed while taking scallops by dredge, except surf clams and mahogany quahogs in accordance with Fis 606.01.

(g) Only one dredge shall be used to take scallops.

(h) The minimum shell height for Atlantic sea scallops shall be 3 1/2 inches. There shall be no tolerance for the shell height and scallops shall be landed in the shell when taken by hand.

(i) No person shall take or possess from the waters under the jurisdiction of the state more than:

(1) 75 pounds of shucked scallop meats per day; or

(2) 625 pounds of scallops in the shell.

(j) Scallops taken in accordance with 50 CFR 648 and taken from outside the jurisdiction of the state may be landed or transported in New Hampshire.

#1041, eff 10-15-77; ss by #2263, eff 1-7-83; amd by #2365, eff 5-17-83; ss by #2839, eff 8-31-84; ss by #4868, eff 7-20-90; ss by #5953, eff 1-25-95; amd by #6916, eff 12-22-98; ss by #8087, eff 5-27-04; ss by #8302, eff 4-1-05; ss by #9299, eff 10-22-08; ss by #10265, eff 1-29-13; ss by #10478, eff 1-1-14

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