While a drop in the shore price is having an impact on southwestern Nova Scotia and Bay of Fundy scallop fishermen this season, it is not as bad as was feared when word came earlier this year that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) was going to open up previously closed scallop areas off the coast of New England.
“The biggest issue this year is the perceived increase in (U.S.) landings and the new access that they have,” said Alain d’Entremont, Chief Operating Officer at O’Neil Fisheries in Digby and spokesman for the Full Bay Scallop Fleet.
“Prices fell in the spring but haven’t gone down as low as some have feared. It hasn’t been a disaster as far as the drop in price, but its been a change on that side of the ledger that we don’t necessarily have any control of.”
U.S projections estimate an increase of 16 to 18 million pounds of scallop meat being landed in the U.S. this year. By comparison, about three million pounds are landed annually in southwestern Nova Scotia and the Bay of Fundy (Scallop Fishing Areas (SFA) 28 and 29).
“I think everybody was aware that this increase in landings in the U.S. was coming and at least the talk at the wharf was vessels were trying to get their quotas caught to try and get the better price for their scallops, knowing it was going it drop once the U.S. boats got at it. Although the drop was significant, like I said earlier it’s not as bad as some had feared.”
Scallop fishermen in southwestern Nova Scotia are fetching an average shore price of between $9 and $9.50/pound this summer, a decrease of between $2 to $3/pound compared to recent seasons.
“The year has been somewhat challenging on the price-side, but the catch rates have been good,” said d’Entremont. “A few years’ worth of our management plan has kept catch rates high. I think fishermen are generally pleased with catches and quality. The market is still strong. People still want scallops and Canadian scallops are good. We do tend to get a premium for Canadian scallops on the marketplace. One good thing seems to be the demand has increased as the price has lowered. In my conversations with restaurants, more restaurants are choosing to put scallops back on the menu or put it as a feature. The decrease in price makes it more interesting and available to put on the plate.”
Most of the scallop quota in the Bay of Fundy (SFA 28) and the SFA 29 west fishery has already been landed this season, with a few areas left to harvest. The season starts October 1 in SFA 28, and June 25 in SFA 29 West.
“Signs are good that the stocks are in pretty good shape,” said d’Entremont. “There are certain areas where we are keeping exploitation down in order to grow the biomass. We know the scallops are young and not in danger of dying anytime soon so we’re shifting effort to other areas. Exploitation has been well below our target exploitation in most areas and we are seeing some of those benefits in terms of increased catch rates.”
Garrett Cottreau, president of the recently formed Tri-County Scallop Association said the vessels in his fleet fishing the SFA 29 west fishery are also seeing positive signs on the fishing grounds.
“There’s a lot of scallops,” he said, adding the fleet is also seeing positive stock indications in the subarea they fish in SFA 29 East, off Baccaro. “Every year we are seeing a lot of big scallops and a lot of new scallops.”
Cottreau said the Tri-County Scallop Association will be conducting an experimental fishery for the second year in SFA 29 subarea A to see what’s there, noting the area was closed several years ago as it was not feasible. The group is also working with the Full Bay Fleet and DFO on scientific surveys and stock assessments.
“We’re just a new association and just getting off the ground,” he said. The Association represents 27 out of an eligible 36 licence holders with an aim of having better representation for the fleet and a seat at the advisory committee table.
Over the past several years, the Full Bay Fleet has done a lot camera work in Bay of Fundy to try and increase the state of knowledge of the stocks, said d’Entremont. An industry vessel is used by DFO to conduct stock assessments. They supply the staff and survey plan.
Four fleets are involved in the scallop fishery in southwest Nova. In the Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick fishermen in the Mid Bay fleet has access to the New Brunswick side. The Upper Bay of Fundy fleet is the fourth.
The entire Bay of Fundy and SFA 29 west scallop fisheries are Marine Stewardship Certified (MSC), first receiving the designation five years ago and getting recertified in early July. According to DFO statistics, the preliminary landed value for scallops in southwestern Nova Scotia in 2017 is $44.1 million for all fleets.
D’Entremont said he hopes the trend the scallop fishery has been seeing with increasing and stable quotas, stock recruitment “and the commitment from industry to shepherd some of that recruitment through and protect it so we have a strong fishery going forward. I think those are things we should be proud of.”
