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Queen scallops

Scientific name:

 Zygochlamys delicatula (Chlamys delicatula)       

Other names:

 tipa (Maori), southern queen, New Zealand gem scallop, New Zealand gem shellfish

Ranking

Best or alternative choice

Queen scallops are a worst choice seafood. A better alternative are cockles or farmed Pacific oyster.

Description

This is the smaller of two commercially fished scallop species in New Zealand. It is found mainly in southern waters from South Canterbury and Stewart Island to the sub-Antarctic Islands. As with the more common scallops (Pecten novaezealandiae), they are found on the seafloor in sandy or muddy habitats. Queen scallops are a deeper species, found in waters up to 400m. They are harvested by dredging.

Ecological concerns

Queen scallops are caught using a special trawl, which is dragged along the seafloor like a dredge. It results in a high bycatch of many non-target species, including invertebrates, and can dramatically alters seabed ecology and associated species assemblages. Also of concern is the absence of directed research, unknown sustainability of current catch levels, absence of population size or yield estimates and the lack of a management plan.

Certification

Not certified under any scheme.

Economic value

The market for queen scallops includes New Zealand, Australia and Asia.

Asssessment output

Regional and or fishing method differences

No regional or fishing method difference.

Status of seafood stocks - sustainability of catches

Score:  D
Population size:  Uncertain
Annual catch limit:  Limit set at 380 tonnes since 2002.
Recorded catch:  Reported landings of 1.788 tonnes in 2014-15, which is the lowest in 20 years.
Stock trends:  Unknown and there are no yield estimates.
MSY Status:  Unknown
The Ministry of Primary Industries assessment plenary report includes:  “No estimates of fishery parameters or abundance are available at present.” (MPI 2016, p 992-994).

Biological characteristics - risk of overfishing and ability to recover

Score:  C
Distribution:  From South Canterbury to Stewart Island and around offshore islands from the Snares to as far south as Macquarie Island, Australia.
Maximum age (years):  10+
Age at sexual maturity:  4-5 years
Growth rate:  Low
Reproductive output:  High
Age exploited:  3-5
Ability to recover:  Low to moderate

Fishing method impacts including non-threatened species bycatch & habitat damage

Score:  E
Fishing method(s):  Dredging
Habitat damage:  Dredging can remove a range of fragile invertebrate species including bryozoans and sponges.
Habitat of particular significance:  hasn’t been defined in New Zealand.
Bycatch:  Non-target shellfish species and invertebrate species including bryozoans and sponges.
Ecological effects:  Dredging can dramatically alter seabed ecology and associated species assemblages.

Protected species or threatened species bycatch

Score:  A
Bycatch:  There are no reports of bycatch of protected species in this fishery.

Unit of seafood stock arrangement

Score:  D
Management component:  Single species.

Effectiveness of management, monitoring, & research

Score:  D
Quota Management Species:  Yes, since 2002 in FMA 3 and 5.
Catch limits:  Yes.
Management plan:  There is no approved shellfish and inshore plan.
Stock assessment:  No quantitative stock assessments. A non-standardised relative biomass is available from a 2004 survey.
Research:  There is no directed research on queen scallop sustainability or biology.
Observer coverage:  Unobserved.

Fisheries map

Taken from the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Plenary report for fisheries management.

cheyden collins - Queen scallops

References

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