A Collaborative Effort to Examine New Strategies for Managing Closed Bottom Habitats for Sea Scallops

Fishermen in eastern Maine wished to evaluate the efficacy of closed areas with respect to enhancement of wild sea scallops. Beginning in spring 2007, two 1 km2 zones that were once, but were no longer, productive scallop grounds were created in the Beals-Jonesport area. To determine the best methods to collect, handle, transport, and deploy wild sea scallops (5-70 mm SL), we initiated and completed experimental bottom trials in each zone over a period of 30 days beginning in late April or early May, 2008. In addition, we collected wild scallop spat (5-10 mm SL) using collection methods transferred from successful field trials in the Canadian Maritimes.

Three independent field trials were conducted in the Jonesport-Beals region from May 2007 to May 2009 that focused on providing information for fishermen and fisheries managers about the efficacy of using closed bottom areas to enhance commercial populations of these bivalves.

final report

presentation: A Collaborative Effort to Examine New Strategies for Managing Closed Bottom Habitats for Sea Scallops (pdf)

Associated data sets:
Abundance of scallops after wet or dry storage methods, 2007 data
Size of scallops after wet or dry storage methods, 2007 data

Station Location Code Names

Sites on West Side of Great Wass Island	Sites on East Side of Great Wass Island
CI = Crumple Island	BH = Bunker's Hole
CL = Corn Ledge	BI = Ballast Island
D1-D12 = "Deep 1 through Deep 12"	BL = Breaking Ledge
D1 = Palmer's Island	BSI = Big Spruce Island
D5 = Outer Ram Island	D1 = "Deep Site #1"
D9 = Eastern Side Ram Island	D2-D10 = "Deep Sites #2 through #10"
DL = Drowned Ledges	D11 = JL = Jumper Ledge
HI = Hardwood Island	LH = Lakeman's Harbor
IS = Inner Sand Island	LP = Loon Point (Jonesport)
LR = Little Ram Island	MI = Mark Island
OR = Outer Ram Island	PL = Point of Lakeman's Harbor
OS = Outer Sand Island	S = Seguin Island
SD = Sea Duck Island	SI = Sheep Island
SS = Steven's Island South	SR = Shag Rocks
ST = Steven's Island North	WC = Wallace Cove (Head Harbor Island)