A Cooperative High Precision Dredge Survey to Assess the mid-Atlantic Sea Scallop Resource : Final Report

For the sea scallop, Placopecten magellanicus, the concepts of space and time have emerged as the basis of an effective management tool. The strategy of closing or limiting activities in certain areas for specific lengths of time has gained support as a method to conserve and enhance the scallop resource. In the last decade, rotational area management has provided a mechanism to protect juvenile scallops from fishing mortality by closing areas based upon scallop abundance and age distribution. Approximately half of the sea scallop industry’s current annual landings come from areas under this rotational harvest strategy. While this represents a management success, it also highlights the extent to which landings are dependent on the success of this strategy. The continued prosperity of scallop spatial management is dependent on both periodic and large incoming year classes, as well as a mechanism to delineate the scale of a recruitment event and subsequently monitor the growth and abundance of these scallops over time. Current and accurate information related to the abundance and distribution of adult and juvenile scallops is essential for managers to respond to changes in resource subunits. Acknowledging the importance of accurate, timely and meaningful information necessary to meet the management challenges presented by this situation, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) conducted a synoptic high resolution (~450 stations) survey of the mid-Atlantic (MAB) scallop resource from the VA/NC border to Block Island, RI encompassing the Delmarva (DMV), Elephant Trunk (ETCA), and Hudson Canyon (HCCA) Access Areas, as well as the open areas of the MA resource area during the spring of 2016 and 2017. The primary objective of these surveys was to assess the abundance and distribution of sea scallops in this area, culminating with spatially explicit annual estimates of total and exploitable biomass. Secondary project objectives for each survey year included: 1. Finfish bycatch species composition and catch rates, 2. Scallop biological sampling (length:weight relationship, disease, product quality parameters and shell samples for ageing) and 3. Selectivity and relative efficiency analysis of the Coonamessett Farm Turtle Deflector Dredge (CFTDD)

A Cooperative High Precision Dredge Survey to Assess the Mid-Atlantic Sea Scallop Resource Area in 2019 and 2020: Final Report

For the sea scallop, Placopecten magellanicus, current and accurate information related to the abundance and distribution of adult and juvenile scallops is essential for effective management of the resource. Scallop management is a combination of input and output controls, with a focus on spatial area management. The continued prosperity of the scallop resource and fishery is dependent on both periodic and large incoming year classes, as well as a mechanism to delineate the scale of a recruitment event and subsequently monitor the growth and abundance of these scallops over time. Acknowledging the importance of accurate, timely, and meaningful information necessary to meet the management objectives and support the fishery, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) conducted a synoptic high resolution stratified random survey of the Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB) scallop resource from the VA/NC border to Block Island, RI encompassing the Mid-Atlantic Access Area (MAAA), as well as the open areas of the MAB resource area during the spring/summer of 2019 and 2020. The primary objective of these surveys was to assess the abundance and distribution of sea scallops in this area, culminating with spatially explicit annual estimates of total and exploitable biomass by Scallop Area Management Simulator (SAMS) Area. Secondary project objectives for each survey year included: 1. Finfish bycatch species composition and catch rates, 2. Scallop biological sampling (length:weight relationship, disease, product quality parameters, and shell samples for ageing), and 3. Sea scallop dredge performance (commercial and survey dredges)

An Assessment of Sea Scallop Abundance and Distribution in Georges Bank Closed Area II and the Southern Extension Closure: Final Report

For the sea scallop, Placopecten magellanicus, the concepts of space and time have emerged as the basis of an effective management tool. The strategy of closing or limiting activities in certain areas for specific lengths of time has gained support as a method to conserve and enhance the scallop resource. In the last decade, rotational area management has provided a mechanism to protect juvenile scallops from fishing mortality by closing areas based upon scallop abundance and age distribution. Approximately half of the sea scallop industry’s current annual landings come from areas under this rotational harvest strategy. While this represents a management success, it also highlights the extent to which landings are dependent on the success of this strategy. The continued prosperity of scallop spatial management is dependent on both periodic and large incoming year classes, as well as a mechanism to delineate the scale of a recruitment event and subsequently monitor the growth and abundance of these scallops over time. Current and accurate information related to the abundance and distribution of adult and juvenile scallops is essential for managers to respond to changes in resource subunits. For the present study, we conducted a stratified random survey of the Georges Bank Closed Area II (GBCA II) scallop access area and the GBCA II Extension closure to the south. The primary objective of this survey was the determination of scallop distribution, abundance and biomass in the area. In addition, we characterized the spatially explicit scallop length weight relationship, identified areas of seed and juvenile scallops, quantified species-specific bycatch, provided additional information regarding the size selectivity and efficiency of the New Bedford style commercial dredge and collected data on scallop biology and market condition. We also conducted a tow duration experiment after the conclusion of the survey to assess the impact of a shorten tow duration on scallop catch

An Assessment of Sea Scallop Abundance and Distribution in Georges Bank Closed Area II and Surrounds : Final Report

For the sea scallop, Placopecten magellanicus, the concepts of space and time have emerged as the basis of an effective management tool. The strategy of closing or limiting activities in certain areas for specific lengths of time has gained support as a method to conserve and enhance the scallop resource. In the last decade, rotational area management has provided a mechanism to protect juvenile scallops from fishing mortality by closing areas based upon scallop abundance and age distribution. Approximately half of the sea scallop industry’s current annual landings come from areas under this rotational harvest strategy. While this represents a management success, it also highlights the extent to which landings are dependent on the success of this strategy. The continued prosperity of scallop spatial management is dependent on both periodic and large incoming year classes, as well as a mechanism to delineate the scale of a recruitment event and subsequently monitor the growth and abundance of these scallops over time. Current and accurate information related to the abundance and distribution of adult and juvenile scallops is essential for managers to respond to changes in resource subunits. For the present study, we conducted a stratified random survey of the Georges Bank Closed Area II (GBCA II) scallop access area and the GBCA II Extension closure to the south. The primary objective of this survey was the determination of scallop distribution, abundance and biomass in the area. In addition, we characterized the spatially explicit scallop length weight relationship, identified areas of seed and juvenile scallops, quantified species-specific bycatch, provided additional information regarding the size selectivity and efficiency of the New Bedford style commercial dredge and collected data on scallop biology and market condition. We also conducted a tow duration experiment after the conclusion of the survey to assess the impact of a shorten tow duration on scallop catch

2024 Yellowtail Flounder Research Track Assessment Working Paper: Yellowtail Flounder Estimates from the VIMS Industry-Based Scallop Dredge Surveys

The U.S. Atlantic sea scallop fishery is supported by an extensive research program, referred to as a Research Set-aside (RSA) program. The RSA program administers a competitive grants program through the allocation of a portion of the annual fishery quota to fund sea scallop research. A high priority of this program has traditionally been to fund fishery-independent surveys that employ different gears types including commercial dredges, a standardized sea scallop survey dredge, and cameras to assess the sea scallop resource across the species range in U.S. waters. The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) has been funded through this program to conduct cooperative industry-based dredge surveys at varying spatial scales since 2000. Broad scales dredge surveys of the Mid-Atlantic (MA) and Georges Bank (GB) have been conducted by VIMS since 2015 and 2016, respectively. The VIMS dredge survey follows standard protocols similar to the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) sea scallop dredge survey that has surveyed the resource since the 1970s. The primary objectives of the VIMS surveys are to provide data on sea scallop abundance, spatial distribution, length structure, and other biological parameters. The surveys also have several secondary objectives, with one such objective being to collect information on finfish species encountered during the survey, including the number of animals and length data. The VIMS scallop surveys often overlap areas of historic yellowtail founder distribution, such as the Nantucket Lightship (NL) and Closed Area II (CA II). Catch data collected since 2015 by the VIMS dredge surveys were examined for trends in yellowtail flounder abundance and distribution by stock unit

Georges Bank Yellowtail Flounder Estimates from VIMS Industry-Based Scallop Dredge Surveys of Closed Area II and Surrounds

This document is the final report submitted to the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) for the Georges Bank Yellowtail Flounder Estimates from VIMS Industry-Based Scallop Dredge Surveys of Closed Area II and Surrounds project. The NEFMC funded this project in April 2019, with an objective of synthesizing existing VIMS dredge survey data with respect to the Georges Bank stock of yellowtail flounder (Limanda ferruginea). Analysis consisted of an examination of existing catch data from VIMS dredge surveys of Georges Bank Closed Area II and surrounds from 2005 to 2019

Final Report An Assessment of Sea Scallop Abundance and Distribution in the Georges Bank Access Areas and Surrounds

For the sea scallop, Placopecten magellanicus, the concepts of space and time have emerged as the basis of an effective management tool. The strategy of rotational area management has aided in the sustainability of the resource. Since 2003 with the adoption of Amendment 10 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP), rotational area management has provided a mechanism to protect juvenile scallops from fishing mortality by closing areas based on scallop abundance and observed length distributions. Approximately half of the sea scallop industry’s current annual landings are attributed to areas under this rotational harvest strategy. While this represents a management success, it also highlights the extent to which landings and management are dependent on the effective implementation of this strategy. The continued prosperity of scallop spatial management is dependent on both periodic and large incoming year classes, as well as a mechanism to delineate the scale of a recruitment event and subsequently monitor the growth and abundance of these scallops over time. Current and accurate information related to the abundance and distribution of adult and juvenile scallops is essential for managers to respond to changes in resource subunits, especially as the resource is being managed at finer-spatial scales. Acknowledging the importance of accurate, timely, and meaningful information necessary to meet the management challenges, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) conducted a stratified random survey of the Georges Bank (GB) Closed Area I (CAI) and Closed Area II (CAII), as well as the southern flank south of CAII in the summer of 2020 and 2021. The primary objective of these surveys was to assess the abundance and distribution of sea scallops in this area, culminating with spatially explicit annual estimates of total and exploitable biomass by Scallop Area Management Simulator (SAMS) Area. Secondary project objectives for each survey year included: 1. Finfish bycatch species composition and catch rates, 2. Scallop biological sampling (length:weight relationship, disease, product quality, and shell samples for ageing) and 3.Sea scallop dredge performance (commercial and survey dredges)

An Assessment of Sea Scallop Abundance and Distribution in the Nantucket Lightship Closed Area and Surrounds: Final Report

For the sea scallop, Placopecten magellanicus, the concepts of space and time have emerged as the basis of an effective management tool. The strategy of closing or limiting activities in certain areas for specific lengths of time has gained support as a method to conserve and enhance the scallop resource. In the last decade, rotational area management has provided a mechanism to protect juvenile scallops from fishing mortality by closing areas based upon scallop abundance and age distribution. Approximately half of the sea scallop industry’s current annual landings come from areas under this rotational harvest strategy. While this represents a management success, it also highlights the extent to which landings are dependent on the success of this strategy. The continued prosperity of scallop spatial management is dependent on both periodic and large incoming year classes, as well as a mechanism to delineate the scale of a recruitment event and subsequently monitor the growth and abundance of these scallops over time. Current and accurate information related to the abundance and distribution of adult and juvenile scallops is essential for managers to respond to changes in resource subunits. Acknowledging the importance of accurate, timely and meaningful information necessary to meet the management challenges presented by this situation, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) conducted a stratified random survey of the Nantucket Lightship Access Area (NLCA), the Extension Closure (EC) to the east and Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) area to the west in the summer of 2016 and 2017. The primary objective of these surveys was to assess the abundance and distribution of sea scallops in this area, culminating with spatially explicit annual estimates of total and exploitable biomass. Secondary project objectives for each survey year included: 1. Finfish bycatch species composition and catch rates, 2. Scallop biological sampling (length:weight relationship, disease, product quality parameters and shell samples for ageing) and 3. Selectivity and relative efficiency analysis of the New Bedford Style Dredge (NBD). As an additional objective, we also conducted a tow duration experiment after the conclusion of each survey to assess the impact of a shorten tow duration on scallop catch

A Cooperative High Precision Dredge Survey to Assess the mid-Atlantic Sea Scallop Resource in 2018: Final Report

For the sea scallop, Placopecten magellanicus, the concepts of space and time have emerged as the basis of an effective management tool. The strategy of closing or limiting activities in certain areas for specific lengths of time has gained support as a method to conserve and enhance the scallop resource. In the last decade, rotational area management has provided a mechanism to protect juvenile scallops from fishing mortality by closing areas based upon scallop abundance and observed age distribution. Approximately half of the sea scallop industry’s current annual landings are attributed to areas under this rotational harvest strategy. While this represents a management success, it also highlights the extent to which landings are dependent on the effective implementation of this strategy. The continued prosperity of scallop spatial management is dependent on both periodic and large incoming year classes, as well as a mechanism to delineate the scale of a recruitment event and subsequently monitor the growth and abundance of these scallops over time. Current and accurate information related to the abundance and distribution of adult and juvenile scallops is essential for managers to respond to changes in resource subunits