MACHIAS — Maine fishing regulators say three key scallop fishing grounds will reopen because of a new approach to monitoring the valuable shellfish.

Gouldsboro Bay and Dyers Bay, the Inner Machias Rotational Area and Wahoa/Jonesport Reach will open during the week of March 14. The state had closed the areas on Dec. 13.

A spokesman for the Maine Department of Marine Resources says surveys conducted during the scallop fishing season show that the areas can still withstand commercial harvesting this year.

Maine scallops were worth about $5.75 million last year. They have grown in value per pound at the dock in each of the last six years.


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