January 31, 2017 — It has been a lucrative season for commercial scallop operators in Bass Strait, between Victoria and Tasmania.
At the end of December, 12 vessels had hauled in $3 million worth of scallops, one of the industry’s most productive seasons in 15 years.
The fishery’s total allowable catch (TAC) was set at 3,000 tonnes, and the vessels used about 95 per cent of that quota.
Australian Fisheries Management Authority southern manager Brigid Kerrigan said the industry had had the option to land a much larger scallop catch.