Research Document - 2002/015

Assessment of the scallop stock in scallop production area 1 in the Bay of Fundy for 2001

By D. Roddick

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 survey data, logbook data, and port sampling data.

Survey biomass estimates and commercial catch rates declined from the historic peak in 1988/89, to the lowest levels in either time series in 1997. Since that time they have improved, and there is a large recruitment pulse in the Digby area entering the fishery. This pulse is not evident in the Cape Spencer or Upper Bay areas of SPA 1. In the Cape Spencer area the population has started to decline as the moderate year class that recruited to the fishery in 2000 is fished down. In the Upper Bay area the strong year class that recruited to the fishery in 2001 will be followed by two weaker year classes. The large recruitment pulse in the 8-16 mile area off Digby is not available to all fleet sectors, complicating setting a single quota for SPA 1. Preliminary work with a biomass dynamic model indicates that the 8-16 mile area off Digby can sustain a sizable increase to the TAC. Under an assumption that natural mortality in 2002 will be similar to that of 2001, an increase to the 600-700 t range would still not exceed F0.1.

Complete document (PDF, 2030 KB)

Accessibility Notice

This document is available in PDF format. If the document is not accessible to you, please contact the Secretariat to obtain another appropriate format, such as regular print, large print, Braille or audio version.