Licence
- Scallops can only be taken by hand and only the licence holder can dive for scallops.
- You must be 10 years or older to hold a scallop licence.
- You cannot take scallops on behalf of another scallop licence holder.
Aboriginal fishing
Aboriginal people engaged in
Aboriginal fishing are exempt from holding a recreational fishing licence but must comply with all other rules.
Seasons
The scallop fishing season is normally open from the Saturday before Easter to the end of July.
The D'Entrecasteaux Channel is managed as a separate scallop fishing area to other state waters and has been
closed for the past few seasons to allow stocks to recover.
Size, bag and possession limits
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Daily Bag Limit (species combined)
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Possession Limit (species combined)
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Minimum Size
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Scallop licence holder
| 50 scallops (total daily catch regardless how many trips you make)* | On land - 100 scallops (or 3 kg of scallop meat) | Commercial scallop - 100mm
Queen scallop - 100mm
Doughboy - 80mm |
Non-licensed person
| - | On water - 0 scallops
On land - 100 scallops (or 3 kg of scallop meat) |
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*Highgrading your catch is not allowed. You can't bring more than your daily bag limit back to the boat or shore then sort them there. Fish are regarded as taken and in your possession as soon as collected or caught. |
Doughboy, Commercial and Queen scallops
Measuring and handling scallops
Scallops are measured across the widest part of the shell (usually parallel to the hinge).
You can not take or possess undersize scallops or have more than your daily bag limit. You should measure and count your scallops as you dive to ensure you are within your limits.
Free measuring gauges are available from Service Tasmania outlets and some tackle shops.
Eating scallops at sea
Scallops may be shucked for immediate consumption at sea as long as the shells are retained and brought ashore along with the rest of the catch. Any scallops consumed count towards your daily bag limit. Landing shucked scallop meats is prohibited.
Area restrictions
D'Entrecasteaux Channel
The
D'Entrecasteaux Channel is the area bounded in the south by a line from Scott Point to the northern tip of Partridge Island, then from the southern tip of that island to the Labillardiere Peninsula and in the north by a line from Dennes Point to Piersons Point. It is closed for scallop fishing to allow local stocks to recover.
All other State waters will be open for the recreational scallop season, except those that are restricted as
Marine Nature Reserves,
Fisheries Research Areas or
marine farms without the permission of the leaseholder.
Consider the water quality of where you are taking scallops, particularly if you intend to eat the roe. See the
Eating Fish Safely page for more information.
D'Entrecasteaux Channel scallop management
The Channel will remain closed until there is a substantial rebuilding of scallops stocks with a range of size classes distributed in the area, not just highly localised stocks.
Research demonstrates that scallops
(Pecten fumatus) in the Channel are genetically different than those on the East Coast. This indicates that the Channel is self seeding and reliant on scallop stock populations from within the Channel. This highlights the importance of protecting areas of high density spawning stock to increase the likelihood of steady and/or significant recruitment pulses for the Channel.
The Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies conducts annual monitoring of the Channel and the results are considered by the Recreational Fisheries Advisory Committee. As monitoring indicates that there has been no substantial rebuilding of scallops stocks, the area remains closed.