The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) is advancing work on Framework Adjustment 40 (FW40), which will guide scallop fishery specifications for the upcoming 2026 season and establish default measures for 2027.

The Council’s Scallop Advisory Panel and Scallop Committee will meet for a webinar on November 19-20 to review specifications and alternatives and select final preferred options. FW40 will set key parameters, including the overfishing limit, acceptable biological catch, and annual catch limits, days-at-sea allocations, and access area trip allocations for both limited access and limited access general category vessels. The framework will also define the total allowable landings for the Northern Gulf of Maine management area and the target total allowable catch for limited access general category incidental catch, along with observer and research set-asides.

Earlier this fall, the Scallop Plan Development Team convened on October 16 to discuss FW40 projections and technical analyses for the 2025 and 2026 fishing years. The development team addressed tasks from the September committee meeting, focusing on modeling updates and catch projections that will inform the final management measures.

The upcoming Advisory Panel and Committee meetings will also review the Council’s draft long-term strategic plan and consider potential 2026 scallop work priorities, continuing the Council’s effort to refine management approaches that maintain stock health while supporting fleet stability.

Public registration for both meetings is open through the NEFMC website, and written comments must be submitted by November 14, 2025, for consideration at these sessions.