MACHIAS, Maine — The state Department of Marine Resources, acceding to the wishes of the Scallop Advisory Council, has proposed that draggers and divers be allowed to fish for scallops the same number of days in 2014-15 as the previous season.

However, Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher put fishermen on notice that the department likely will be faced with having to take emergency action to curtail the season.

The agency — following the advice of staff experts — initially had proposed reducing the number of days in all three fishing zones for the upcoming season to allow scallop stocks to continue to rebuild. The department had proposed cutting 22 days in Zones 1 and 2, which make up most of the coast, and 18 days in Zone 3, the scallop-rich Cobscook Bay region.

The council voted at a June 30 meeting 6-3 — with two abstentions — in favor of keeping the number of fishing days the same.

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