Document Type
Report
Department/Program
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
VIMS Department/Program
Marine Advisory Program (MAP)
Publication Date
7-2023
Series
Marine Resource Report No. 2023-4
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 rotational area management has aided in the sustainability of the resource. Since 2003 with the adoption of Amendment 10 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP), rotational area management has provided a mechanism to protect juvenile scallops from fishing mortality by closing areas based on scallop abundance and observed length distributions. Approximately half of the sea scallop industry’s current annual landings are attributed to areas under this rotational harvest strategy. While this represents a management success, it also highlights the extent to which landings and management are dependent on the effective implementation 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, especially as the resource is being managed at finer-spatial scales.
Acknowledging the importance of accurate, timely, and meaningful information necessary to meet the management challenges, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) conducted a stratified random survey of the Georges Bank (GB) Closed Area I (CAI) and Closed Area II (CAII), as well as the southern flank south of CAII in the summer of 2020 and 2021. The primary objective of these surveys was to assess the abundance and distribution of sea scallops in this area, culminating with spatially explicit annual estimates of total and exploitable biomass by Scallop Area Management Simulator (SAMS) Area. Secondary project objectives for each survey year included: 1. Finfish bycatch species composition and catch rates, 2. Scallop biological sampling (length:weight relationship, disease, product quality, and shell samples for ageing) and 3.Sea scallop dredge performance (commercial and survey dredges).
DOI
https://doi.org/10.25773/dr3t-mw92
Keywords
Sea scallop, Fishery management
Publication Statement
Submitted to: National Marine Fisheries Service Northeast Fisheries Science Center Cooperative Research Program
Funding
National Science Foundation Award Number: NA20NMF4540026
Recommended Citation
Roman, S., & Rudders, D. (2023) Final Report An Assessment of Sea Scallop Abundance and Distribution in the Georges Bank Access Areas and Surrounds. Marine Resource Report No. 2023-4. Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary. https://doi.org/10.25773/dr3t-mw92
