D'Entrecasteaux Channel scallop survey and stock status: 2017

Commercial and Doughboy Scallops remain overfished and in very low densities in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel. Genetic studies suggest that the Commercial Scallop population in the Channel is heavily reliant on self-recruitment and as such it will be necessary to rebuild the adult stock significantly before any fishery for this species could be justified. While moderate densities of Queen Scallops were present they appeared to be restricted to small and isolated beds in the central Channel region. There was evidence of a number of cohorts in the Queen Scallop population, suggesting some limited recruitment in recent years. The dominant size class was in the 80-90 mm range, with relatively few individuals larger than 100 mm. The low standing stock of legal-sized Queen Scallops, overall limited area of the main beds and very low abundances of both Commercial and Doughboy Scallops provide no scientific basis upon which to expect any recovery of stocks that would justify a scallop fishery in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel for at least the next 3-5 years.