US Atlantic sea scallop
Last Updated: 29 March 2012
Number of fisheries: 1
Species
Atlantic Sea Scallop (Placopecten magellanicus)
MSC assessment status
The Conformity Assessment Body, Intertek Moody Marine, has proposed 2 peer reviewers for the review of the Draft US Atlantic sea scallop fishery Assessment Report.
If you wish to provide feedback on the proposed peer reviewers, please contact Don Aldous no later than 5pm GMT, 6 April 2012.
Please refer to the assessment downloads section for further information.
Fishery location
The fishery takes place in FAO Statistical Area 21, off shore from Maine to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
Fishing method
New Bedford Dredge
Fishery management
Overall responsibility for management of the scallop resource lies with NMFS. NEFMC is charged with developing the fisheries management plan that meets with the requirements of the MSA. It works in cooperation with the MAFMC. The fishery is managed through the Scallop Fisheries Management Plan with all the subsequent Amendments and Framework adjustments.
Commercial market
The main markets for scallop are the U.S. domestic market and member states of the European Union.
Assessment timeline
The assessment process is scheduled for completion in or around August 2012. Please see the download section for a detailed revised assessment timeline.
The target eligibility date for this fishery is the 1st April 2011.
The MSC ecolabel can only be applied to product from certified fisheries. The MSC program does allow, in certain circumstances and within strict traceability requirements, the MSC ecolabel to be applied following certification to product caught before the actual date of certification. The target eligibility date therefore represents the date from which products may become eligible to carry the MSC ecolabel, however they cannot be sold until and if the fishery is certified. The actual eligibility date will be determined if the fishery is certified to the MSC standard.
To find out more about when fish from this fishery may be sold with the MSC ecolabel, please follow this link (http://www.msc.org/get-certified/supply-chain/eligibility-dates).
Tonnage of the fishery
In 2007 the catch was about 26,500 mt. compared to 29,200 mt in 2004 and 5,500 mt in 1998 (prior to the start of stock recovery).
