Scallop Fishery Management

How to Manage our Scallop Fishery!

Whitey is President of the Nantucket Shellfish Association and the BOS liaison for the Harbor and Shellfish Advisory Board (SHAB). These positions enable him to interact with the scallopers, Maria Mitchell Association scientists, the Marine Superintendent, the Town’s Shellfish Biologist

The Marine Collaborative has the objective to make the Nantucket Bay scallop fishery robust and sustainable. In 2008/09 there were about 199 commercial fishermen and 1,800 recreational fishermen. A good fishing season brings in $1.5 million from off-island sales. With the multiplier effect of 7 times, the fishery stimulates the economy by $10 million.

In addition the 1,800 recreational scallops stimulate the economy by push raking along the shores, buying scallop equipment, and visiting the Island in the of-season.

The Nantucket Shellfish Association has as one of its goals the modification of the Brant Point Boathouse into a scallop hatchery. A well managed hatchery will be able to grow scallops, do research into the scallops life cycle, and best predict when and where to set the seed scallops. This research and management is a cooperative effort between the Marine Department, the Maria Mitchell Association, and the Nantucket Shellfish Association.