Stock Status Report C4-07 (2002)
Scallops in Quebec inshore waters
Summary
All areas
Scallops spawn in late summer, and juveniles settle on the seabed in the fall. Meat weight yield varies according to the spawning cycle and is lowest during the spawning period. Consequently, juveniles are very sensitive to any disturbance of sediment by fishing gear during the settlement period. Therefore, it is recommended that scallop beds not be dragged from August to November. Quebec scallop landings totalled 205 t in 2001, down 28 % from 2000; 70 % of landings were from the Mingan region (Areas 16E and 16F) and north of Anticosti Island (Area 18A).
Magdalen Islands
- In 2001, landings from traditional fishing grounds totalled 19 t, representing a 46 % drop from 2000. The decrease was offset by the harvest of a seeding site that yielded equivalent landings. Restrictive measures enforced in recent years, including the reation of a spawning refuge, the gradual implementation of a minimum size limit of 100 mm and the reduction of the fishing effort, are intended to help with the recovery of declining wild stock. However, no sign of recovery has been noted thus far. In 2001, the abundance of scallops in fishing grounds and commercial yields remained very low. Consequently, current measures should be strengthened to prevent the stock’s deterioration and help initiate a recovery.
Gaspé
- Gaspé landings plummeted by 72 %, reflecting the total absence of the fishery south of Anticosti Island (Areas 18B and 18C) and in the southern portion of the Île Rouge bed (Area 17A1), as well as the decrease in fishing effort in Chaleur Bay (Area 19A) in 2001. The low abundance of sea scallops and the decrease in the number of large scallops in commercial landings in Chaleur Bay (Area 19A) in 2001 are cause for concern. In order to favour the stock’s recovery, it is recommended that the fishing effort in this area be decreased either through a reduction in the number of fishing days or the introduction of quotas.
North Shore
- In 2001, landings from the North Shore totalled 165 t, down 10 % from last year. Indices measuring the state of the resource were relatively stable for the North Shore in 2001, and it is recommended that the status quo be maintained for management measures in most of these areas. However, landings from north of Anticosti Island (Area 18A) increased by 61 t following a quota increase in 2001. The growing fishing effort in this area raises concern because it results in a decrease in the size of scallops in commercial catches and an increase in the exploitation rate index. Reducing landings to 1999 and 2000 levels in the Area would be preferable to help increase scallop size and reverse the yield downtrend.
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