scallop

sustainability

Wholesale Scallops Sustainability

Boston Sword & Tuna

The U.S. fishery for sea scallops is the most valuable sea scallop fishery in the world. But this wasn’t always the case. In the 1990s, catches were plummeting and the fishing effort was too high. Since then, though, the National Marine Fisheries Service has changed the way it manages the fishery by using a system of closed area rotations to allow scallop stocks to recover to optimal population levels. In addition, new gear modifications that reduce the catch of small, immature scallops have been enacted. As a result, sea scallop populations off the Northeast have multiplied ten fold and catches have been consistently at or near record highs since 2001.

The sea scallop fishery has also undertaken a variety of measures to reduce its environmental impact. In certain areas, for example, scallopers are required to use Turtle Deflector Dredges to reduce interactions with sea turtles. And the scallop fleet spends up to $10 million on benthic surveys to mitigate habitat impacts.

In light of these conservation efforts, the U.S. sea scallop fishery is currently undergoing assessment to be certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council.

Best Choice

Seafood in this category is abundant, well-managed and caught or farmed in environmentally friendly ways.

Good Alternatives

These items are a good option, but there are small concerns with how they're caught or farmed - or with the health of their habitat due to other human impacts.

Avoid

Take a pass on these items for now. They are caught or farmed in ways that harm other marine life or the environment.