Atlantic scallop Archives - Saving Seafood

Public comment opened for proposed Atlantic scallop rule

March 18, 2025 — NOAA Fisheries has announced the opening of a public comment period on proposed changes to the Atlantic Sea scallop fishery, as outlined in Framework Adjustment 39. The proposed rule aims to set annual catch limits, adjust management measures, and implement modifications to improve the efficiency and sustainability of the fishery.

According to NOAA Fisheries, the rule would establish 2025 fishing year allocations for both limited access and limited access general category (LAGC) fleets. Additionally, the framework includes measures to maintain rotational area openings and closures, ensuring long-term stock health.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

Projects in the Field: Saving money and time with an EM Pilot Program in the U.S. sea scallop fishery

March 8, 2025 — Reprinted with permission of EM4Fish:

A project led by the Coonamessett Farm Foundation (CFF) and Saltwater, Inc (SWI). is testing the feasibility of voluntary, cost-shared electronic monitoring (EM) on six commercial sea scallop fishing vessels in Massachusetts and New Jersey.

Turbulent outlook for the fishery

After ranking among the most economically important fisheries in the United States (U.S.) over the last decade, accounting for more than $480 million of commercial landings in 2022 alone, the Atlantic sea scallop fishery is bracing for a few challenging years ahead. The total exploitable biomass of sea scallops appears to be on a downward trend, with climate change threatening the long-term health of the population. The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) estimated annual projected landings for the 2025 fishing year to generate only about $348.3 million (19.8 million pounds) in landings, a 28% reduction from 2024.

As the fishery looks for novel cost-cutting measures to weather the coming reductions in catch, the Industry-Funded Scallop (IFS) Program sticks out as large annual expenditure for all fishermen. Observers for the sea scallop fishery are managed though the IFS. In this program, vessels selected to carry an observer must pay for that coverage, equal to ~$800 each day of the trip. Although, the IFS sets aside 1% of the annual catch limit that is redistributed back to vessels to partially offset their costs for carrying an observer. In 2025, this 1% set aside would amount to about $3.5 million in landings.

In addition to observer costs, another systematic inefficiency associated with current sea scallop fishing management is the days-at-sea (DAS) calculation methodology. Currently it is not possible to determine whether a vessel is fishing or transiting from the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) alone, days-at-sea are currently calculated by transit time after a vessel crosses the VMS Demarcation Line, which runs parallel to the Atlantic coast from North Carolina to Maine, and notifies the Coast Guard of its fishing activity. As a result of this rule, vessels that depart from ports closer to productive fishing regions are at an advantage. For example, a sea scallop vessel based in New Bedford, MA planning to fish on Georges Bank in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean could transit along an efficient, straight pathway. Whereas a vessel departing from Cape May, NJ might elect to transit along the U.S. coast to Nantucket before darting out of the VMS Demarcation Line to fish the same area.

By hugging the coast, vessels departing from the Mid-Atlantic consume more fuel and waste time. Furthermore, these vessels are not permitted to transit over several closed rotational sea scallop access areas, which further restricts their trajectories. If DAS could be determined based on the exact time a sea scallop dredge enters the water for the first time during a trip, individual vessels could save hundreds of thousands of dollars over a season, while spending fewer consecutive days away from their families.

Read the full article at EM4Fish

MASSACHUSETTS: “Abundance Of Scallops” Prompts Town To Seek Extension Of Commercial Season

March 6, 2025 — With a huge number of bay scallops in the harbor and only a small number of fishermen still on the water, the Harbor & Shellfish Advisory Board lobbied the Select Board on Wednesday to extend Nantucket’s commercial scalloping season by nine days.

“There’s an abundance of adult scallops in the harbor,” Harbor & Shellfish Advisory Board chair Andy Lowell told the Select Board members at their meeting this week. “There are very few scallopers active at this point. The ones who do rely on this for their livelihood have missed a lot of days due to cold weather – I believe 15 or 16 days have been missed for cold weather…It was decided to extend the season, it’s simply nine more days of fishing.”

The Select Board agreed, voting unanimously in favor of the recommendation from the Harbor & Shellfish Advisory Board, commonly known as “SHAB.” But the measure will still require the endorsement of the state Division of Marine Fisheries to go into effect.

Read the full article at the Nantucket Current

MASSACHUSETTS: The future for New Bedford scallopers: ‘Tough year ahead’

January 27, 2025 — Federal regulations, the new Trump Administration, the economy, climate, and offshore wind all play a part in the livelihood of South Coast scallopers and the most lucrative port in the nation. Watch the full Chat here to learn more.

Offshore Wind Farms: A Growing Concern

The panel highlighted concerns over offshore wind development, with many citing its impact on scallop habitats. The recent moratorium on new offshore wind leases and reviews of existing projects was welcomed by the panel.

“Wind farms change currents,” said Eric Hansen. “All scallop larvae, when they’re first born, are floating in the currents. It’s gonna change where they settle. It’s gonna change where the predators are because you change the environment.”

Tony Alvernaz expressed skepticism about whether turbines could ever be removed completely. “Even if they were to be decommissioned, decommissioning them basically means cutting them off at 15 feet above the ground,” he explained. “The rocks around them are there forever, and it’s a dead zone for fishing pretty much.”

Jim Kendall shared his experiences working with Vineyard Wind, noting that the company made efforts to engage with local fishermen. However, he contrasted this with other companies that have not shown the same level of respect or concern for the fishing industry.

Declining Scallop Stocks

Scallop landings have declined significantly, with Hansen reporting that total landings are expected to be 15–18 million pounds this year, down from the 40–60 million pounds typically landed in previous years.

“The total landing is going to be down even with the increased days of sea fishing going from 20 to 24,” Hansen said. “The catch per day is down so much we would need 30 or 40 days to catch what we used to catch in 20.”

Surveys have shown high numbers of juvenile scallops, which could lead to a recovery in the future. “If they all survive and grow, we are looking to rebound in a couple of years,” Hansen said, adding that the fishery could recover by 2027.

Northern Edge Closure Frustrates Fishermen

The Northern Edge of Georges Bank, a scallop-rich area, has been closed to fishing for decades, a decision that continues to frustrate many in the industry. The area was designated as a habitat area of particular concern (HAPC) for groundfish spawning, but fishermen argue that there is little evidence to justify the closure.

“The surveys that we’ve done hardly show any fish up there,” said Alvernaz. “The justification is insane.”

Hansen explained that the closure was tied to protecting cobble and gravel habitat thought to be important for codfish spawning. However, he acknowledged that the science on codfish presence in the area is limited.

Economic Pressures on Scallopers

Alvernaz detailed the rising costs of operating scallop boats, including higher prices for gear, fuel, and maintenance. “It cost me $60,000 last year to paint one boat,” he said. “And with quotas down, it’s foolish to run boats for such little return.”

The panel discussed potential solutions, including allowing multiple permits on a single boat, which would reduce inefficiencies. “It cost me $60,000 last year just to paint one boat,” Alvernaz reiterated, adding that operating at current quota levels is becoming unsustainable.

Japanese Scallops and Market Pressure

The panel also touched on the impact of Japanese scallop imports, which have introduced significant competition for smaller scallops in the U.S. market. Hansen noted that Japanese scallops are priced at around $12 per pound, making it difficult for American fishermen to compete.

“The 25 to 30 per pound scallops from Japan are driving the price down for our smaller scallops,” Hansen said.

Offshore Wind and the Need for Studies

The panel emphasized the importance of scientific research to assess the impact of offshore wind farms on the scallop fishery. Hansen stressed the need for baseline studies to document the state of the environment before more wind projects are developed.

“For a baseline study, you need five to ten years of data,” Hansen said. “We’re late in getting the data to judge impacts.”

Alvernaz added that scallop larvae can attach to structures like turbines, which may create changes in where scallops settle over time.

Looking Ahead

The panelists concluded by expressing the need for continued dialogue and action to address these challenges. “We’ve been through tough times before,” said Kendall, “and we’ll get through this too.”

As the scallop industry faces an uncertain future, fishermen, scientists, and policymakers will need to collaborate to find solutions that protect livelihoods and ensure the sustainability of the fishery.

Watch the full chat at The New Bedford Light

Northern Wind acquisition of Atlantic Capes in part due to lower scallop quotas

January 16, 2025 — Northern Wind’s recent acquisition of Atlantic Capes Fisheries was in large part due to diminishing scallop quotas in the U.S. Northeast.

Atlantic Sustainable Catch, which is composed of Northern Wind, Suncoast Seafood, and Raymond O’Neill & Son Fisheries, acquired the business in late December 2024, which will see Northern Wind take over the processing and sales division of the company. Both companies are based in the Northeast U.S. and process a significant portion of the scallop quota in the region.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

New England scallop quotas cut by 28 percent for 2025

December 16, 2024 — The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) has finalized Framework 39 for the 2025 scallop fishing season, marking a significant moment for one of the Northeast’s most valuable fisheries. The decision sets annual projected landings at 19.75 million pounds, a substantial drop of nearly 28 percent compared to the 27.4 million pounds projected for 2024.

The reduction comes in response to scientific surveys conducted in 2024, which revealed significant declines in scallop biomass across key fishing grounds. Seafood Source shared that these surveys, performed by institutions such as the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, UMass Dartmouth School for Marine Science and Technology, Maine Department of Marine Resources, and the Coonamessett Farm Foundation, confirmed a troubling downward trend in harvestable stocks.

According to a NEFMC press release, the catch for 2025 is expected to generate approximately $348.25 million—a reflection of the fishery’s high value despite reduced harvests. The current outlook follows a steady decline in scallop landings since a peak of over 60 million pounds in 2019. In subsequent years, landings fell to 47.5 million pounds in 2020, 43 million in 2021, 31.5 million in 2022, and 24 million in 2023.

Read the full article at National Fisherman

NEW YORK: There May Be Hope Yet for Peconic Scallops

November 15, 2024 — Over the past five-plus years, Peconic Bay scallops have suffered mass die-offs blamed on an infectious parasite, but researchers at the Cornell Cooperate Extension have found a source of scientifically informed hope: genetic diversity.

Harrison Tobi, an aquaculture educator with the extension’s Bay Scallop Restoration Program, put it plainly for nonscientists: “Basically, they’re inbred in the Peconic.”

To understand the findings, Mr. Tobi discussed when the parasite was first identified in Argopecten irradians, or Peconic Bay scallops, in 2019: The “fishery collapsed by almost 99 percent,” resulting in losses of over $1 million annually since then.

“First off, it’s what we call a novel parasite, which means it was literally never discovered before,” Mr. Tobi said at the Southold laboratory. “Its genetics are brand-new to the scientific world.”

After the collapse, the Cornell Cooperative laboratory sent samples to Stony Brook University’s marine animal disease laboratory, led by Bassem Allam. “That is when we first discovered the parasite,” Mr. Tobi said.

There is no way to know how long it might have been present. “It’s like Schrodinger’s cat: We can’t really say it was or it wasn’t there because we didn’t test for it,” he said. Most likely, it had been present for some time, as it was also found in Maine, Massachusetts, and New Jersey.

Read the full article at The East Hampton Star

Commercial scalloper: “I just want to get by and not get ripped off.”

November 4, 2024 — Fifty-year fishing veteran Doug Smith, better known as Captain Smitty on the waterfront, is worried about the state of commercial scalloping on Nantucket.

Catching them isn’t the problem, he said.

The fishery is a far cry from what it was in the 1980s, but he had no issues collecting his five-bushel limit on the opening day of commercial scalloping season Friday. He was offloading his haul at Straight Wharf by noontime.

“I’m scared, and I’m looking for new resources. Something new and exciting, rather than the three dominant buyers,” Smith said Friday.

Island fish markets would not confirm what they were paying fishermen for their scallops Friday, but several scallopers and dealers said that Sayle’s Seafood, Glidden’s Island Seafood and Nantucket Seafoods were offering between $12-14 a pound. Last year most buyers were paying $15 on opening day.

Read the full article at The Inquirer and Mirror

MASSACHUSETTS: Nantucket Commercial Scalloping Season Opens; Fisherman Getting $12 Per Pound

November 1, 2024 — Nantucket’s commercial scalloping season opened Friday morning with roughly 20 boats returning to the water as temperatures hovered in the 60s.

Most of the island’s fleet was in town, concentrating on Nantucket Harbor but a few boats were in Madaket Harbor.

The wholesale price paid to fishermen opened at $12 per pound – down from last year’s opening day price – while the retail price settled around $22 to $26 per pound at island fish markets.

Read the full article at the Nantucket Current

Port of New Bedford cites ‘grave concern’ about new offshore wind area

October 25, 2024 — The city’s Port Authority published a letter to offshore wind regulators Wednesday, raising “grave concerns” over a 13.4 million acre tract of ocean recently opened to wind farm developers in the Central Atlantic that could put up to $2 billion in commercial fishing revenue at risk.

“BOEM has painted with too broad a brush,” New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell wrote in the letter to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). “We believe that the new Mid-Atlantic call areas must be cut back from existing scallop and other fishery access areas, which still would leave ample room for nearby states to achieve their offshore wind capacity goals.”

In August, BOEM began soliciting proposals for offshore wind developers to lease 13.4 million acres of ocean off New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina. It is the second of such sales in the Central Atlantic and the fifth offshore wind lease sale held during the Biden-Harris administration. The first lease sale in the Central Atlantic was completed also in August, yielding nearly $93 million from developers Equinor Wind US and Virginia Electric and Power Company.

Read the full article at the New Bedford Light