Cooperative research to advance sea scallop management

The harvest of Atlantic sea scallops ranks among the most economically important fisheries in the United States. However, landings have declined by 70% over the last seven years, leaving fishermen, scientists, and policy makers searching for more effective management strategies. In this seminar, Andrew will highlight two avenues to improve operational efficiency and expand resource survey coverage. With 15+ vessels participating, he leads the first effort to investigate the feasibility of electronic monitoring to augment observer coverage. Results are improving catch estimation, tracking priority bycatch species, and more precisely determining days-at-sea, which could increase profitability. To expand survey capabilities, Andrew also developed a submersible pump that collects larval sea scallops at discrete depths aboard commercial vessels. Paired with a polarized light microscope, larval sea scallops can quickly be measured and identified through species-specific patterns in their shells. Together, these studies create new management opportunities and develop buy-in from fishermen through collaboration.