America’s scallop catch expected to dip by a fifth in 2021
But the projected catch of about 40 million pounds would still be more than any of the years from 2013 to 2015.
By PATRICK WHITTLEAssociated Press
Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press, file
The United States’ scallop catch is likely to decline by more than a fifth in the coming year, federal regulators have said.
The catch is predicted to come in at about 40 million pounds, the New England Fishery Management Council said in a statement. That’s a dip from a projected 51.6 million pounds this year and 60.5 million pounds in 2018.
The scallop fishery has benefited from a very large number of new scallops that began growing in 2012 and 2013, said Janice Plante, a spokesperson for the council. Those scallops are reaching the end of their lives, and that likely means fewer will eventually find their way to the docks, she said.
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) The United States scallop catch is likely to decline by more than a fifth in the coming year, federal regulators have said.
The catch is predicted to come in at about 40 million pounds (18.1 million kilograms), the New England Fishery Management Council said in a statement. That s a dip from a projected 51.6 million pounds (23.4 million kilograms) this year and 60.5 million pounds (27.4 million kilograms) in 2018.
The scallop fishery has benefited from a very large number of new scallops that began growing in 2012 and 2013, said Janice Plante, a spokesperson for the council. Those scallops are reaching the end of their lives, and that likely means fewer will eventually find their way to the docks, she said.
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10 December 2020 21:01 GMT Updated 10 December 2020 23:27 GMT
The US Atlantic sea scallop fleet should be able to land 40 million pounds (18,143 metric tons) of scallops during the 2021 fishing year season, according to an announcement Thursday by the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC).
That is about 23 percent lower than the 52 million pound (23,586 metric tons) projection for the 2020 season.
The 40-million-pound projection for 2021, would make the season s catch the lowest since 2015, when 36.9 million pounds (16,737 metric tons) were harvested. From 2016 through 2020, landings have been above the 42 million-pound range.
Janice Plante, public affairs officer for the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) told
IntraFish the decrease was not a surprise to the scallop fishery.
Published: Thursday, December 10, 2020
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