Background

• Main Author: Maritimes Region
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1998
• Subjects: Tac; Northwest Atlantic
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.575.3462; http://www2.mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/science/rap/internet/SSR_1998_C3_56_E.pdf

The sea scallop Placopecten magellanicus occurs only in the northwest Atlantic Ocean from Virginia north to Labrador. Within this area, scallops are concentrated in persistent, geographically discrete aggregates or "beds", many of which support valuable commercial fisheries. The larger beds are found offshore and in the Bay of Fundy along the Nova Scotian coast. Scallops in different beds, and in different areas of large beds, show different growth rates and meat yields. Unlike many commercial scallop species, the sea scallop has separate sexes. Male scallops develop a white gonad in the summer months, while female gonads are bright red. Eggs and sperm are released into the water and fertilization takes place in the sea. Spawning begins in late August to early September, and the larvae drift in the water for almost a month before settling to the bottom in October. The Bay of Fundy area is fished by the Full Bay and the Mid-Bay licensed fleets. Full Bay vessels are 45 ’ to 65 ’ and Mid-Bay vessels are generally between 30 ’ to 45’. Full Bay licensed vessels are permitted to fish all the Bay of Fundy. The Mid-Bay license holders have access to the New Brunswick side of the Bay of Fundy to the Mid-bay line and SPA 2. There are also 16 Upper Bay Licences restricted to the upper reaches of the Bay. There is a gear limit of 5.5 m with ring size of less than 82 mm inside diameter. Seasonal closures, quotas, meat counts, minimum shell height and limited entry are used to manage the fishery. This industry became a quota fishery in 1997, with limited entry, TAC, gear size, seasonal closures, minimum shell height and meat count restrictions.