Trump administration seeks to reduce U.S. commercial fishing regulations

Scallop fishing has been prohibited in New England waters since 1994, a measure imposed by the National Marine Fisheries Service after scientific assessments revealed that the region’s scallop stocks had been driven to dangerously low levels by overfishing. The ban was enacted to protect the species and the broader marine ecosystem, preventing further depletion of the scallop populations that had been harvested for decades.

The regulatory framework established in 1994 required all commercial scallop operations to cease harvesting within the designated New England area. Since then, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has monitored scallop populations through periodic surveys and stock assessments. The data collected over the past two decades have shown gradual improvements in scallop abundance, indicating that the conservation measures have begun to yield positive results for the species’ recovery.

The scallop ban remains in effect, and the federal agencies continue to enforce compliance and refine management strategies based on ongoing scientific research. While the prohibition has limited commercial activity in the region, it is viewed as a necessary step toward ensuring the long‑term sustainability of New England’s scallop fisheries.