Stock status update of scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) in Scallop Production Areas 1 to 6 in the Bay of Fundy

Abstract

Harvesting of Sea Scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) in the Bay of Fundy (BoF) and Approaches includes commercial, communal commercial, and communal Food, Social, and Ceremonial (FSC) harvesting. Advice on the status of Scallop in Scallop Production Areas (SPAs) 1 to 6 in the BoF is requested annually by Resource Management Branch, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Maritimes Region, to help determine a Total Allowable Catch (TAC, meat weight) in support of the commercial component of the fishery. The purpose of this report is to update the stock status of Scallop in SPAs 1 to 6 with data from the 2024 Scallop survey and fishery (October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024). The last Regional Advisory Process of the BoF Scallop stocks occurred in 2015 (DFO 2016, Nasmith et al. 2016); updates have been conducted since. The last update was in November 2023 (DFO 2024). This Science Response Report results from the regional peer review of November 22, 2024, on the Stock Status Update of Bay of Fundy Scallop in Scallop Production Areas (SPAs) 1A, 1B, and 3-6.