Research Document 1998/148
Medium-to-Long Term Sustainability threatened in the 4R Fishery for the Iceland Scallop
By K.S. Naidu, F.M. Cahill, and E.M. Seward
Abstract
The 4R (Strait of Belle Isle) fishery for Iceland scallop has long been characterized by the absence of significant recruitment events. It is hypothesized that continuous, sometimes intense, fishing activity over relatively small areas may inflict collateral damage to recently settled scallops thereby impairing settlement of young and their subsequent recruitment. The fishery continues to be driven by a disproportionate dependence on residual pockets of low-to-moderate density contagions consisting primarily of old scallops. Scallop prices have remained sufficiently attractive to maintaining economic viability even with low catch rates throughout.
Based on a research vessel survey in 1997, fishable biomass was estimated between 7,570 and 11,035 t round (x = 9,302 t). Using a 10% exploitation rate, an appropriate catch level would be 930 t round. The availability in this fishery of critical volumes that allow catch rates to be economic is rapidly decreasing. A pulse fishing strategy, long the rule here, has now become less appropriate as the ability to opportunistically switch to other species in close proximity to home ports, has diminished considerably.
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