Saving Seafood

US Atlantic scallop prices high as rotational closures reduce supply, boost production costs

June 24, 2021 — The Atlantic sea scallop fishery – predominantly centered around ports in New Bedford, Massachusetts; Point Judith, Rhode Island; Cape May, New Jersey; and Norfolk, Virginia – is the largest and most valuable wild scallop fishery in the world. Projected landings in the federal fishery are expected to be around 40 million pounds in 2021.

“The allocation was developed using survey data from 2020, and then projecting growth, harvest, natural mortality and recruitment,” Jonathon Peros, fishery analyst and scallop lead at New England Fishery Management Council, said.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Northeast scallops: Prices high as rotational closures reduce supply, boost production costs

June 4, 2021 — The Atlantic sea scallop fishery — predominantly centered around New Bedford, Mass.; Point Judith, R.I.; Cape May, N.J.; and Norfolk, Va., ports — is the largest and most valuable wild scallop fishery in the world. Projected landings in the federal fishery are expected to be around 40 million pounds in 2021.

“The allocation was developed using survey data from 2020, and then projecting growth, harvest, natural mortality and recruitment,” says Jonathon Peros, fishery analyst and scallop lead at New England Fishery Management Council.

In 2019, commercial landings of Atlantic sea scallops totaled more than 60.6 million pounds (shucked meats) valued at around $570 million. Landings have dropped by 10 million pounds per year the last two years.

“This was expected,” adds Peros. “There were two exceptional year classes in 2012 and 2013 that the fishery has been catching. We are in the twilight of those two cohorts.”

Despite expected declines in landings this fishing year, prices in late April were up, particularly for the largest market grades (U10 and U12). Prices on the New Bedford auction surpassed $30 per pound for U10s and U12s. “Prices on all market grades are up from where they were at this time last year,” adds Peros.

Read the full story at National Fisherman

US sea scallop surveys open door for big harvest in 2018

October 11, 2017 — GLOUCESTER, Massachusetts — Extensive surveys of Atlantic sea scallop beds on Georges Bank and in the Mid-Atlantic bode well for area fishermen counting on a good haul in 2018: The biomass is so high that it’s possible catch limits could even be increased.

Sea scallops have been a more solid source of seafood business in New England than other fish and shellfish in recent years. The 35.7 million pounds harvested in 2015, the most recent year available from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data, were worth $437.9m in ex-vessel landings value, sixth most valuable among all seafood landings in the US and an almost 6% weight gain over the previous year. The average ex-vessel price per pound of meats in 2015 was $12.26.

No wonder scallops make up 80% of the total value of all landings in the Port of New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Read the full story at Undercurrent News

US Scallop Catches Likely Stable for 2017 after NE Council Approves Plan

November 18, 2016 — SEAFOOD NEWS — The New England Fishery Management Council opted for stability in the scallop fishery for 2017, approving a plan that slightly reduces fishing pressure in open areas, and provides for one more trip to the rotational closed areas.

The spatial management of the scallop resource has made the fishery behave similar to a limited access fishery.  In 2016 scallopers were allowed three trips to closed areas, with a set trip limit.

In 2017, they will be allowed 4 trips to closed areas at 18,000 lbs per trip, and the open areas will be managed by a days at sea regime where each license holder gets 30 days at sea.

The net result is stability in the fishery, with landings expected to be around 47 million lbs.  This compares to 46.9 million pounds projected for the current fishing year.

The 2016 projections represent a 30% increase from the 36 million pounds landed in 2015.

The outlook for 2018 is also for continued stability.

“We’re happy. It’s a valuable fishery right now,” said Jimmy Wotton, a Maine scallop fisherman. “People are starting to recognize it’s a top quality product, and they are willing to pay for it.”

Scallops continue to be a popular item even at historically high prices.  Even with the increase in landings, prices are only slightly lower than they were a year ago.  Dry 10-20 scallops – a premium product – are quoted by Urner Barry at $14.79 compared to $15.13 in November 2015.

Treated or processed scallops are sold at much lower prices.  10-20 processed scallops in November were selling for $9.35, more than $1.00 less than the $10.50 price a year ago.  The increasing price spread between dry and processed scallops shows that the increased supply has mostly affected prices at the lower end of the market.

“We’ve certainly seen prices at the auction have been strong,” said Jonathon Peros, a scallop plan coordinator with the New England Fishery Management Council.

This story originally appeared on Seafoodnews.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.