Bay Scallop FMPDraft Amendment 1

Marine Fisheries CommissionAug. 12, 2010

Investigating Adaptive Management of Bay Scallop Harvest Based on Measures

of Abundance

Background• Bay scallop FMP finalized Nov 2007

• Prohibited take occurred from 2006 – 2008 as part of the FMP management strategy

• Data on scallop abundance from the fishery independent sampling are evaluated annually as directed by the FMP

• Sampling in Core, Bogue, and Back sounds began to show an increase in abundance beginning in 2008

Target Re-opening Indicator• A standardized scallop population level

indicator was selected as a target for reopening the harvest season by the N. C. Marine Fisheries Commission at its January 2009 meeting

• This target was based on NCDMF sampling that occurred between the months of October and December in 1984 and 1985 for Back, Bogue, and Core sounds

Annual Commercial Landings1950 to 2005

Progressive Triggers• Allows flexibility in management

• Allows consideration of population variability in all areas each year

• Allows for limited bay scallop harvest while maintaining the FMP goal of rebuilding the stock to pre-red tide abundance levels

Back Sound Sampling Target (1984-85 lnCPUE) and Progressive

Triggers for Adaptive Management

Bogue Sound Sampling Target (1984-85 lnCPUE) and

Progressive Triggers for Adaptive Management

Core Sound Sampling Target (1984-85 lnCPUE) and

Progressive Triggers for Adaptive Management

Additional Items to Consider• Proclamation authority allows flexibility to

adjust seasons, trip limits or allowed gears based on current conditions

• 5-year review of the FMP in 2012

• Daily maximum allowed harvest is 20 bushels per person per day with a maximum of 40 bushels per day in any combined commercial fishing operation (15A NCAC 03K .0501)

Additional Items to Consider• Recreational harvest limits are now set in

proclamation

• Separation of gears and user groups to particular days of the week for easier enforcement

• Increase in commercial fishing effort due to improved harvest and open license

• Number who harvest bay scallops for recreational purposes is unknown

Management Options1. Status quo: Continue using only target

opening indicators, without progressive triggers for adaptive harvest

2. Consider adaptive management measures based on pre-determined progressive triggers for Core, Bogue, and Back sounds

3. Consider adaptive management measures for Pamlico Sound based on limited sampling with pre-determined progressive triggers

Management Options4. Use pre-determined target and progressive

triggers from Bogue Sound for opening areas south of Bogue Sound until a sampling time series is developed for a starting target level from this region

5. Continue to leave areas south of Bogue Sound closed to bay scallop harvest but consider adaptive management measures once a sampling time series is established to determine a target opening level

• No public comments were received during any of the open meetings

Overview of Public Meetings

• NCDMF received comments from a special meeting with Mr. Henry Frost, Mr. Joey Frost and Dr. Pete Peterson

Committee AC Initial DMF Initial Crafted OwnNortheastShellfishH&WQ

SoutheastCentralInland

Other Items from Meetings• Use of dish detergent to improve visibility of

scallops to hand harvesters

• Study the impacts of hand harvest versus scallop dredge harvest on grass beds

• Change the definition of a scallop dredge to a scallop scrape

• Reinforce the need for a recreational shellfish license

AC and NCDMF Recommendations

• Consider adaptive management measures in Bogue, Back, and Core sounds using progressive triggers of 50%, 75%, and 125% of the 1984-1985 target levels

• Consider adaptive management measures in Pamlico Sound using progressive triggers of 50%, 75%, and 125% of the January 2009 target level

• Use adaptive management measures with progressive triggers from Bogue Sound as a proxy to open areas south of Bogue Sound until a sampling time series is established for an appropriate target in the areas south of Bogue Sound

AC and NCDMF Recommendations

Recommended Commercial Harvest Levels for the Progressive Triggers

Recommended Recreational Harvest Levels for the Progressive Triggers

Research Recommendations• Expand the current bay scallop fishery

independent sampling to improve estimates of the population abundance and spawning condition of the stock

• Conduct research to study the impacts of scalloping activities on bay scallop habitat