Status: CLOSED
For more information about the current scallop season, visit the
commercial scallop season page.
Overview
The Tasmanian scallop fishery targets the commercial scallop
(Pecten fumatus), one of three species naturally occurring in Tasmania. Scallops are commercially harvested using a benthic scallop dredge, which is towed along the sea floor.
Managing the fishery
The Tasmanian scallop fishery is managed under the provisions of the
Living Marine Resources Management Act 1995 and
Fisheries (Scallop) Rules 2020.
The fishery is managed by individual transferable quotas (ITQ) as well as several input controls. It utilises a spatial approach to stock management referred to as a “paddock" fishing strategy, whereby all State waters are closed to fishing, except certain areas (paddocks) that meet specific opening criteria. This limits the impacts of scallop dredging to the smallest area possible. Within an area open to commercial scallop fishing, a smaller designated area remains closed. This helps make sure a spawning population of scallops is retained in the area to breed future stocks.
A scallop dredge can't be deployed in waters less than 20 metres deep or in scallop dredge prohibited areas. As such, there is a spatial separation between the recreational scallop fishery (where diving is in shallower waters) and the commercial fishery. All scallop vessels are fitted with
vessel monitoring systems (VMS), which record and transmit the location, speed and heading of a vessel for fisheries compliance purposes.
Scallop surveys
Each year, commercial scallop fishers participate in a process of surveys to identify areas that could open to commercial scallop fishing. Recommendations about whether or not an area opens are based on information from these surveys.You can view the most recent scallop survey results on the
commercial scallop season page.
A scallop dredge can be deployed for the purpose of a scallop survey in all State scallop waters other than scallop dredge prohibited areas, waters less than 20 metres deep and areas identified as a priority for targeted surveys.
There are three types of surveys:
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Exploratory surveys
- Exploratory surveys are Statewide surveys to locate and identify potential areas for opening.
- Fishers must measure up to 50 scallops from each tow, and commercial quantities of scallops can be retained with a maximum of 50 tonnes
per scallop area.
- These surveys can only occur during the designated survey period, generally 2-3 months prior to a potential season opening.
-
Targeted surveys
-
Targeted surveys are more detailed surveys of known scallop beds (usually identified in exploratory surveys) to provide estimates of scallop biomass/density and size structure.
- Targeted surveys follow a structure developed by IMAS, and an IMAS observer is onboard vessels to oversee the survey and data collection.
-
Opportunistic surveys
- Opportunisitc surveys are exploratory surveys which take place outside the designated survey period as scallop fishers transit from an open area to a port, or whilst participating in other fisheries.
- Fishers must measure up to 50 scallops from each tow and no scallops can be retained.
Fishers must have a survey authorisation to participate in any survey.
Area
The jurisdiction of the Tasmanian scallop fishery extends to 200 nautical miles from the Tasmanian coast, with the exception of Bass Strait, where its jurisdiction covers 3-20 nautical miles offshore. See map below.
The area of State waters for the scallop fishery provided by the offshore constitutional settlement.