Research Document 1997/46

Results of 1996 research surveys of sea scallop abundance in areas near Grand Manan Island and Cape Spencer, Bay of Fundy

By J.M. Hanson

Abstract

Pilot-scale research surveys of sea scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) abundance and distribution were conducted in the Bay of Fundy near Cape Spencer (May) and Grand Manan Island (September) during 1996. The last surveys in either area were done in 1991. The mean number per tow in the Cape Spencer area was 7-times lower than observed in 1989 and individuals < 80 mm in shell height were uncommon in the survey area. This apparent lack of younger age-classes suggests that there will be no increase in the fishable resource near Cape Spencer in the short term. The mean number per tow near Grand Manan Island was lower than the peak observed in 1987 but similar to abundances observed in 1988 and 1989. The age-distribution was dominated by animals <age-8, which is characteristic of fully exploited populations. The occurrence of relatively high concentrations of scallops near the boundaries of the survey area for both surveys is an indication that the distributions of the scallop populations were not adequately covered. The ideal solution to this problem would be to conduct a single survey covering all potential scallop habitat in the Bay of Fundy.

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