Research Document 1998/128

SPA 4 scallop stock assessment: survey update and stock status

By S.J. Smith and M.J. Lundy

Abstract

An area-based management plan comprising of seven scallop production areas was implemented for the Bay of Fundy scallop fishery on 1 January 1997. This document reviews the data from the 1997 fishery and 1998 research survey for Scallop Production Area (SPA) 4 which lies off of Digby, Nova Scotia. A total of 116.1 t was landed in SPA 4 in 1997, exceeding the quota of 100 t by 11 November, with an average catch per unit effort of 12.81 kg/h. Research survey estimates continue to show that the 1992 and 1993 year-classes are strong with the former year-class being recruited to the fishery in 1998. However, the bulk of these year-classes are in areas in which scallops tend to exhibit low yield. The survey does not show any signs of strong recruitment for scallops <80 mm in shell height. The 1998 fishery was opened with a 100 mm shell height restriction, maximum of 40 meats per 500 g and 120 mt total allowable catch. Based on survey estimates of population meat weight, 120 mt implies an exploitation of approximately 18 to 21 percent. The validity of these estimates of exploitation depends upon our estimates of the catchability of scallops to the survey gear which are rudimentary at best.

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