American sea scallop
Browns and German Banks
Profile updated on 14 April 2024
SUMMARY
SUMMARY
IDENTIFICATION
SCIENTIFIC NAME(s)
Placopecten magellanicus
SPECIES NAME(s)
American sea scallop
The American sea scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) is found only in the Northwest Atlantic. Scallops are aggregated in patches and harvestable concentrations are called beds. Major areas of offshore fishing activity include aggregated patches in Browns Bank (North and South) and German Bank, also known as offshore Scallop Fishing Area (SFA) 26.
Scallops prefer a sandy, gravel bottom and occur in depths of 35 to 120 meters.
Advice on the status of sea scallop stock is requested annually by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), through the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) process. DFO provides updates annually (DFO, 2023).
ANALYSIS
- An Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (IFMP) is in place by the management body (DFO) for the entire offshore sea scallop fishery, which includes the Browns Bank North, Browns Bank South, and German Bank (DFO, 2023).
- The Browns Bank North portion of the fishery is more productive (DFO, 2023).
SCORES
Management Quality:
≥ 6
≥ 6
10.0
