Terms of Reference

Stock Status Update of Bay of Fundy Scallop in Scallop Production Areas (SPAs) 1A, 1B, and 3-6

Regional Peer Review - Maritimes Region

November 22, 2024

Dartmouth, NS

Chairperson: Kristian Curran

Context

Harvesting of Sea Scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) in the Bay of Fundy and Approaches includes commercial, commercial communal, and food, social, and ceremonial (FSC) harvesting. The Bay of Fundy commercial fishery is fished by three scallop fleets: Full Bay, Mid Bay, and Upper Bay. The Full Bay Fleet operates under an Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) system, and the Mid and Upper Bay fleets operate under competitive quotas. Total Allowable Catches (TACs) are set for the commercial fishery and landings are reported by meat weight (i.e. adductor muscle). Population surveys are conducted annually by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). The last full stock assessment was held in November 2015 (DFO 2016; Nasmith et al.2016). An interim update for the fishery was conducted in November 2023 (DFO 2024), with all stocks in the Healthy Zone.

This Science Response Report evaluates the status of Bay of Fundy scallop stocks by SPA (1A, 1B, 3, 4, 5, and 6).

Objectives

The objectives of this regional science response process are:

• Using established reference points, harvest strategies and indicators, update the outcomes of different harvest levels in the SPAs 1A, 1B, 3, 4, 5, and 6 for the 2024/2025 season;
• Provide advice on the interim harvest levels for the start of the 2025/2026 season for SPA 1A, 1B, 3, and 4;
• Summarize available bycatch of non-target species information and identify any notable changes in occurrence of these bycatch species relative to previous years.

Expected Publications

• Science Response

Expected Participation

• DFO Science
• DFO Resource Management

References

• DFO. 2016. Assessment of Scallops (Placopecten magellanicus) in Scallop Production Areas 1 to 6 in the Bay of Fundy. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2016/004.
• DFO. 2024. Stock Status Update of Scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) in Scallop Production Areas 1 to 6 in the Bay of Fundy. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2024/005.
• Nasmith, L., Sameoto, J., and Glass, A. 2016. Scallop Production Areas in the Bay of Fundy: Stock Status for 2015 and Forecast for 2016. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2016/021. vi + 140 p.