Emergency Scallop Closures in
Zone 2 Declared

by Laurie Schreiber

Maine DMR graphic

The Department of Marine Resources (DMR) closed two scallop-fishing areas in Zone 2. For management purposes in the scallop fishery, the coast is divided into Zone 1 (the western half), Zone 2 (most of the eastern half) and Zone 3 (easternmost Cobscook Bay). The fishery is managed under a 10-year Rotational Management Plan, which includes triggers for closing areas to fishing once certain harvest levels are reached.

Maine DMR map

For the areas recently closed, harvest data, collected since the season opened, was compared with data collected in the spring 2014 survey. The comparison showed the areas had reached the limit of sustainable fishing, according to the DMR.

The spring survey indicated the areas were weak in legal-size scallops and abundance.

Maine DMR map

In addition, the two areas were subject to additional effort. The closed areas of Pleasant Bay and Addison River and the Little Kennebec-Englishman’s Bay were cleared out of legal-size scallops, said DMR resource coordinator Trisha Cheney.

The resource is showing signs of recovery, said Cheney. Landings have been up significantly following a long decline. The goal now is to closely monitor harvest levels and resource strength to ensure continued recovery.

Cheney likened the rotational system to crop rotation. For example, two-thirds of Zone 2 were open to fishing last year, and one-third was closed. This year, the reverse is true.

The combination of rotational management with targeted area closures appears to be effective, as demonstrated by 424,547pounds landed in 2013, a twelve-fold increase from 2005 (Figure 2).

However, DMR documents show those landings were caught by approximately 150 additional participants compared to previous years. The current season was undertaken with the understanding that the season would likely be curtailed to prevent overfishing.

The industry, through the Scallop Advisory Council, asked the DMR to provide fishing opportunity up front, and make adjustments in season as necessary. The DMR was willing to take this approach in part because this fishery is prosecuted in the winter months, and proposing a limited season could create an incentive to fish in unsafe conditions. The DMR emphasized it will take action to continue to rebuild the scallop resource as well as provide stability and predictability for the industry into the future.

Maine DMR map

The closures are based on input from the Marine Patrol and independent industry participants. The DMR determined the level of fishing effort in these discrete areas during the first four weeks of fishing likely exceeded the 30 percent removal target and threatens future recruitment of “seed” scallops in these areas. A fishery independent survey in April 2014 identified these rotational areas as having an increased density of harvestable scallops following two years of closure and moderate amounts of seed scallops, thereby suggesting a recovery has begun.

Some fishermen have complained about the uncertainty they face with sudden closures. They are also sometimes traveling to distant locations to fish for limited periods. Cheney said the DMR has tried to communicate with the industry about the new plan so fishermen can plan. The scallop management plan was phased in because it is so different from past plans. The goal was to rebuild the resource, but still allow fishing to continue.

Cheney said fishermen have been involved in the development of the fishery’s management plan.

“The Maine scallop fishery was a formerly valuable resource which reached an all-time low in 2005, landing just over 33,000 pounds of scallop meats. Nine years later, a benchmark harvest figure of a half-million pounds is expected for 2014,” said Cheney. The biomass is expanding, with larger meats more common. In 2010, the count was 30 to 35 meats per pound; this season, the count has been 20 and it is expected to grow to more valuable sizes.

To receive hard copies of the Scallop Plan and maps, contact Trisha Cheney at: 207-624-6554, trish.cheney@maine.gov.