Scallop fishery Archives - Saving Seafood

BOB KEESE: Small-boat fishermen seek to protect fishery

April 9, 2016 — Ron Smolowitz accuses small-boat scallopers of “gaming the system” to access the Nantucket Lightship fishing area (“Working the system makes the system unworkable,” My View, April 2).

As Smolowitz knows, in December New England Fishery Management Council scientists sent a memo saying there weren’t any conservation concerns with limited fishing there. The proposed access was so small it wouldn’t make sense for Smolowitz’s big-boat fishermen, catching 17,000 pounds per trip, to fish there. But small-boat fishermen can catch only 600 pounds a day, so the proposed access gives us 500 trips — which makes a huge difference for our families and community.

Read the full opinion piece at Cape Cod Times

Former mariner Luis Catala teaches fishermen safety on the water

April 5, 2016 — Being a commercial fisherman is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world, and the ocean off New England is the deadliest in the country. The fatality rate in its groundfishing and scalloping fisheries surpasses even Alaska’s “Deadliest Catch” crab fishery.

“People often don’t realize that, and even if they do, they might not understand the scope,” said J.J. Bartlett, the president and CEO of a nonprofit group called Fishing Partnership Support Services. “An example that I use is that if public schoolteachers in Massachusetts died at the same rate as our Northeast ground fisherman, over 400 schoolteachers would die on the job every year.”

The nonprofit group has trained nearly 3,000 fishermen since it started safety training for fishermen in 2005. It offers about 10 sessions a year across New England, recruiting instructors from various companies and organizations involved in fishing safety and equipment.

The sesssions cover a wide variety of safety lessons and skills, including plugging leaks, putting out fires, wearing inflatable immersion suits and shooting flares.

“You don’t want to be doing this stuff for the first time when you’re out on the water,” said safety instructor Luis Catala at a training in Hyannis in October. “This is a great chance for them to practice and learn.”

Read the full story at The Cape Cod Times

MAINE: Emergency closure announced for scallop fishery

March 24, 2016 — Targeted closures of scallop fishing grounds were announced by the Maine Department of Marine Resources on March 20 due to “depleted stock,” according to closure notices posted by the department.

The closures are “imposed as a conservation measure to assist in rebuilding specific areas of the state.”

Read the full story at Island Advantages

New Approach to Scallop Monitoring Results in Re-Opened Fishing Grounds

March 9, 2016 — The following was released by the Maine Department of Marine Resources:

A new approach to scallop monitoring in Maine state waters has led to changes in scallop abundance estimates that will result in the reopening of three important fishing grounds this season.

The areas opening are Inner Machias Rotational Area, Wahoa/Jonesport Reach and Gouldsboro Bay and Dyers Bay, which were closed through emergency rulemaking by the Maine Department of Marine Resources on December 13, 2015. The Department will open the areas the week of March 14 by allowing the emergency regulation to lapse.

“The Maine scallop fishery has seen significant advances in both science and management in recent years,” said Maine DMR Science Bureau Director Carl Wilson. “In 2012 the DMR, working closely with industry, implemented rotational management and targeted in-season closures. These new management tools were developed to continue rebuilding the resource in areas that had been closed for three years, while supporting a sustainable fishery.”

Under the new management strategy, pre-season dredge surveys were used by the DMR to estimate abundance and harvestable biomass in areas likely to be subject to heavy harvesting pressure. DMR staff uses estimates of scallop biomass removed from these areas based on port sampling, sea sampling, and industry feedback to make decisions about timing of in-season closures. Closures occur when 30%-40% of the harvestable biomass in an area has been removed.

To further improve understanding of the scallop resource and the impacts of the fishery, the Department piloted in-season dredge surveys in Cobscook Bay during the 2014-15 fishing season. Results from the 2014-15 in-season surveys allowed Cobscook Bay to remain open two weeks longer than the pre-season survey originally supported. “This is a valuable tool that we are using to validate our initial projections,” said Wilson.

During the current 2015-16 season, in-season surveys have been used in Cobscook Bay as well as Machias Bay, Gouldsboro Bay and western Vinalhaven. After comparing results of the pre and in-season surveys, DMR scientists found discrepancies that needed further investigation to fine-tune biomass estimates and projections.

As a result of this in depth analysis, Department scientists determined that there remains approximately 13,500 pounds in the Inner Machias Rotational Area and 4,500 pounds in Gouldsboro Bay to be harvested.

Corrected projections of harvestable biomass and in-season surveys both revealed that less than the targeted 30% of the harvestable biomass had been removed from these areas, both of which were closed by emergency action in December 2015. As a result, these areas along with Wahoa/Jonesport Reach and Dyers Bay will temporarily re-open to fishing the week of March 14.

“The in-season surveys allow DMR scientists to better evaluate pre-season estimates and to more effectively assess the scallop resource in specific areas,” said Wilson. “This in turn enhances the timeliness and precision of management decisions. This season, the additional analysis has provided Maine scallop harvesters with late season fishing opportunity.”

Fishery council decision endangers scallop stock

February 20, 2016 — I received a letter from Jason Colby, who is a charter-boat captain and sits on the board of directors for non-commercial fishermen here in Massachusetts about the nasty — he calls it “corrupt” — goings-on in the scallop fishery.

He told me how Eddie Welch, a shellfish advisor, had written to him about the problem down on the Cape and wanted to share this with me and the readers. Here are excerpts from his letter:

“A recent controversial decision to open select scallop grounds off the coast of New England to certain select fishing groups undermines sustainable scallop management, and threatens the future health of one of the region’s most valuable resources.

“On Dec. 3, the New England Fishery Management Council allotted one component of the fishing fleet 300,000 pounds of scallops for harvest from an area of the Atlantic known as Nantucket Lightship. This allotment would open Nantucket Lightship too early, and goes against the principles that have made scallop management so successful.

“For the past two decades, the scallop fishery has been a resounding success thanks to a system known as rotational management. Under this system, scallopers are allowed into certain areas to harvest scallops, while other areas are left off-limits to allow the scallops in them to grow and re-populate. This has ensured that the region’s scallop population is healthy and stable, that no areas are fished prematurely, and that scallops are not over-fished.

Read the full opinion piece at Lowell Sun

Maine To Shut Down Most Productive Scallop Ground For Season

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine fishing regulators are shutting down more key scallop grounds as fishermen exceed targeted levels for the year.

The state Department of Marine Resources says it is closing Cobscook Bay, the most productive scallop fishing area in Maine. It is also shutting down the Owls Head area of Lower Penobscot Bay and limiting the St. Croix River to one day per week for draggers and one day per week for divers.

Read the full story from the Associated Press at WABI

EDDIE WELCH: Scallop regulators threaten fishery by opening Nantucket Lightship

February 18, 2016 — A recent controversial decision to open select scallop grounds off the coast of New England to certain select fishing groups undermines sustainable scallop management, and threatens the future health of one of the region’s most valuable resources. On Dec. 3, the New England Fishery Management Council allotted one component of the fishing fleet 300,000 pounds of scallops for harvest from an area of the Atlantic known as Nantucket Lightship. Proposed by council member and Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance CEO John Pappalardo, this allotment would open Nantucket Lightship too early, and goes against the principles that have made scallop management so successful.

For the past two decades, the scallop fishery has been a resounding success thanks to a system known as rotational management. Under this system, scallopers are allowed into certain areas to harvest scallops, while other areas are left off-limits to allow the scallops in them to grow and repopulate. This has ensured that the region’s scallop population is healthy and stable, that no areas are fished prematurely, and that scallops are not overfished. By creating an exception to this system that favors certain interests, the council is jeopardizing one of the greatest success stories in U.S. fisheries management.

Read the full opinion piece at the New Bedford Standard-Times

Rebuilding Maine’s Scallop Fishery: Part 2

February 11, 2016 — The scalloping season is scheduled from December through March or April, depending on which fishing zone you’re in.

State waters are broken up into three zones, each with its own set of rules.

Wednesday, Caitlin Burchill took us scallop fishing in Cobscook Bay, an area which has since been closed to scallop fishing for the season.

The Department of Marine Resources says they’ve made the scallop fishery their top priority.

While Maine may be known for lobster, they want fisherman to have another seafood to fall back on.

In recent years, the DMR has implemented special closures, shorter seasons, and fishing limits, among other things, to help rebuild the fishery after it was overfished and hit rock bottom in 2005.

State regulators say it’s working, but what do fishermen think about all the rules?

Caitlin Burchill looks into it.

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Tim Sheehan sees scallop harvesters at the end of a hard day’s work.

Many stop by his store in Perry to sell him fresh caught Cobscook Bay scallops.

“Everyone needs to eat and the prices are going up and up and up. Years ago, guys would fish all day to get $5 a pound. Well now, I’m paying them $12.50 and you know for a half a days work, not that they don’t have huge overhead, it’s pretty good days pay,” said Sheehan.

A better price perhaps thanks to the creation of fishery management plans.

Trisha Cheney overseas the scallop fishery for the Department of Marine Resources.

“We base all of our management on the best available science, so we also have a science team that’s in the field collecting information,” said Cheney.

The state also gets input from fishermen.

“Three different management approaches in three different areas of the state, and it’s based on what the harvesters want in that area and we’ve seen different success in those areas as well,” said Cheney.

But when Cheney calls for closures, she understandably gets some angry phone calls.

Read the full story at WABI

Emergency closure ordered for two Maine scallop fisheries

February 3, 2016 — Maine scallop fisheries in Cobscook Bay and Owls Head will face an emergency closure after Maine’s Department of Marine Resources (DMR) identified a 30% exceeded removal target.

The closures will be effective on Saturday, Feb. 6, the DMR said.

In addition, harvesting in the St. Croix River will be limited to one day per week for draggers on Wednesdays and one day per week for divers on Fridays during the months of February, March and April 2016.

Based on direct input from the Marine Patrol and independent industry participants as well as observations made through the department’s monitoring programs, the level of fishing effort in these areas during the fishing season has likely exceeded the 30% removal target that ensures the fishery continues to rebuild.

Cobscook Bay has experienced a high amount of fishing effort the past three fishing seasons, as well as this season, and requires “an immediate conservation closure”, DMR said.

This determination is based on information collected in the DMR fishery independent in-season survey, DMR port sampling and Marine Patrol observations as well as direct industry reports.

These reports indicate a total of 59 vessels have been consistently targeting the area since it opened on Dec. 1, 2015.

Read the full story at Undercurrent News

Maine issues emergency closure to scalloping around Vinalhaven, Fox Island Thorofare

January 14, 2016 — AUGUSTA, Maine — The Department of Marine Resources in-season surveys conducted on Jan. 7 and 8, in specific scallop-fishing regions observed significant declines in scallop biomass densities, according to a Jan. 14 news release.They also determined that seed scallops were being illegally taken.

“An immediate conservation closure is necessary to reduce the risk of unusual damage and imminent depletion of the scallop resource in the Vinalhaven and Fox Island Thorofare and the Whiting and Dennys Bays,” said the DMR.

Therefore, DMR is adopting emergency regulations to close these areas Saturday, Jan. 16. In addition, a correction to the South Portland Harbor Targeted Closure will also be included to ensure enforceability of this area.

Vinalhaven and Fox Island Thorofare

In the Lower Penobscot Bay and Outer Islands Rotational Area, Marine Patrol, sea sampling, in-season surveys and direct industry reports indicate that the majority of fishing activity has been focused in the Fox Island Thorofare and around the inshore islands (Leadbetter, Hurricane, and Greens Islands) west and southwest of Vinalhaven.

Strong catches were reported during the first three weeks of the season, with upward of 20 vessels fishing and easily able to reach their daily landings limit by as early as 10 a.m. However, over the following weeks, Catch per unit effort decreased with vessels taking the majority of the day to reach their daily landings limit and the fleet began working in more exposed areas outside of the sheltered islands, indicating that the majority of legal sized scallops had been harvested from these areas.

Read the full story at Penobscot Bay Pilot