Favourable ice conditions are allowing for an early start to the scallop fishing season in Area 20.

The opening has been brought forward to March 15 which gives fishers an additional two weeks to complete fishing for the days set out in their licenses.

Cédric Arseneau, director of the sector at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, explains that the date was established in consultation with the industry and biologists.

He explains that quota catches spread over a long period of time give fishers more flexibility in choosing their trips.  Since this fishery has a quota, decisions on the opening date can be made now unlike for the lobster fishery.

 Cédric Arseneau (French audio only):

As the most recent scientific surveys show a decline in commercial size scallop stocks, the 21 holders of the 22 licenses in the Islands will share a total of 230 days of fishing, or about 10 days per license, compared to 13 days in 2020.

Arseneau explained that despite a 33 per cent decrease in the edible tonnage fished in 2020 compared to the average from 2016 to 2019, DFO biologists remain optimistic about the preservation of the resource due to a good recruitment rate.

In 2020, 32 tonnes of scallops were fished and 40 tonnes in 2019.  The scientific way to calculate the stock is how many scallops are caught during one hour of dragging.

 Cédric Arseneau (French audio only):

The board also salutes the resilience of scallop fishermen who were the first to adjust their methods to integrate the public health recommendations related to COVID-19 last year.

Fisheries and Oceans also calls for caution on the wharves and to avoid creating gatherings at the time of landings.