Document Type
Report
Department/Program
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
VIMS Department/Program
Marine Advisory Program (MAP)
Publication Date
7-29-2024
Series
VIMS Marine Resource Report No. 2024-5
Abstract
For the sea scallop, Placopecten magellanicus, current and accurate information related to the abundance and distribution of adult and juvenile scallops is essential for effective management of the resource. Scallop management is a combination of input and output controls, with a focus on spatial area management. The continued prosperity of the scallop resource and fishery 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.
Acknowledging the importance of accurate, timely, and meaningful information necessary to meet the management objectives and support the fishery, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) conducted a synoptic high resolution stratified random survey of the Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB) scallop resource from the VA/NC border to Block Island, RI encompassing the Mid-Atlantic Access Areas, as well as the open areas of the MAB resource area during the spring/summer of 2021 and 2022. 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 parameters, and shell samples for ageing), and 3. Sea scallop dredge performance (commercial and survey dredges).
Survey results were presented to the Sea Scallop Plan Development Team (PDT) to inform management decisions for fishing years (FY) 2021 and 2022 (i.e., access area access and catch allocation). Survey data were also provided to the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) in 2021 and 2022 for use in projections for the annual specification process for FY 2021 and 2022 and for use in upcoming stock assessments. Results indicated that the exploitable biomass in the traditional access areas and open area off of Long Island remained high in both years, although recruitment was limited. Analysis of relative gear performance for the Coonamessett Farm Turtle Deflector Dredge (TDD) suggested that this dredge is more efficient than the New Bedford style dredge.
Description
Award Number: NA21NMF4540011
DOI
https://doi.org/10.25773/23tz-0d85
Keywords
Sea scallop, fishery independent survey
Funding
NOAA Sea Scallop Research Set Aside Program
Recommended Citation
Roman, S., Lin, C., & Rudders, D. (2024) A Cooperative High Precision Dredge Survey to Assess the Mid-Atlantic Sea Scallop Resource Area in 2021 and 2022. VIMS Marine Resource Report No. 2024-5. Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary. https://doi.org/10.25773/23tz-0d85
