A Study to Assess the Effect of Tow Duration and Estimate Dredge Efficiency for the VIMS Sea Scallop Dredge Survey : Final Report
Rudders, David Roman, Sally Trembanis, Arthur Ferraro, Danielle
Rudders, David
Roman, Sally
Trembanis, Arthur
Ferraro, Danielle
Abstract
For the sea scallop, Placopecten magellanicus, the concepts of space and time have emerged as the basis of an effective management tool. The strategy of closing or limiting activities in certain areas for specific lengths of time has gained support as a method to conserve and enhance the sea scallop resource. In the last decade, rotational area management has provided a mechanism to protect juvenile scallops from fishing mortality by closing areas based upon scallop abundance and age distribution. Approximately half of the sea scallop industry’s current annual landings come from areas under this rotational harvest strategy. While this represents a management success, it also highlights the extent to which landings are dependent on the success of this strategy. The continued prosperity of scallop spatial management is dependent on both periodic and large incoming year classes, as well as, a mechanism to delineate the scale of a recruitment event and subsequently monitor the growth and abundance of these scallops over time. Current and accurate information related to the abundance and distribution of adult and juvenile scallops is essential for managers to respond to changes in resource subunits.
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2019-05-29
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Marine Resource Reports
Research and Technical Reports, Sea scallop fishery