Research Document - 1999/062
Assessment of the Scallop Stock in Scallop Production Area 1, Bay of Fundy for 1998.
By D. Roddick, M.J. Lundy, M. Butler and S.J. Smith
Abstract
Starting on 1 January 1997, the Bay of Fundy scallop fishery was divided into Scallop Production Areas (SPA's) for management considerations. This move was made in response to declining catches and concerns over the long term viability of the scallop fishery. SPA 1 is the largest SPA in the Bay of Fundy and is accessible, at least in part, to all Bay of Fundy scallop license holders. This assessment examines previous and current survey data, logbook data, and the Full Bay fleet port sampling data. Some of the data is preliminary as work is being done to incorporate the new management boundaries into the databases.
Survey biomass estimates and commercial catch rates have declined from the historic peak in 1988/89, to the lowest levels in either time series. At the present level of effort the removals from the stock in the traditional Digby and Cape Spencer areas appear to be balanced by growth and a low level of recruitment. The population of large scallops is being fished down and there are no signs of a strong recruitment pulse in the next few years. The outlook is for a stable but low scallop abundance in this area, as long as fishing effort remains at present levels.
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