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At the January 2021 meeting of the New England Fishery Management Council, members voted to submit Framework 33 to NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).  Pursuant to section 304(a) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, NMFS is drafting an interim final rule to approve and implement Framework 33.  The purpose of Framework 33 is to set management measures for the scallop fishery for the 2021 fishing year, the annual catch limits for the limited access and limited access general category fleets, as well as days-at-sea allocations and sea scallop access area trip allocations.  Framework 33 implements specifications that would result in a reduction in projected landings as compared to fishing year 2020 (40.0 million pounds for fishing year 2021 compared to 51.6 million pounds for fishing year 2020).  This is due to a decrease in harvestable biomass and a lack of significant recruitment in recent years.  Because of this, the economic impacts of the Framework 33 fishery specifications are expected to be negative for the scallop vessels and small business entities compared to fishing year 2020.  Furthermore, Framework 33 would maintain the existing seasonal closure in Closed Area II to reduce bycatch of Georges Bank yellowtail flounder and northern windowpane flounder, and close areas to fishing to protect small scallops and reduce bycatch of flatfish.