Following a biomass survey of stocks earlier this year, a total allowable catch (TAC) of 3,897 tonnes of commercial scallops has been set for the 2019 Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery season.
The Scallop Resource Assessment Group (ScallopRAG) and Scallop Management Advisory Committee (ScallopMAC) met on 6 and 7 June respectively to consider the outcomes of the 2019 biomass survey for the fishery.
The ScallopRAG recommended that the TAC be set at 4000 tonnes less survey quota and that four areas are closed to protect spawning biomass. These are made the following recommendation for the 2019 season which was the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) be set at 4000 tonnes (less survey quota) and that the following areas be closed to protect spawning biomass - Flinders Island (area of 2018 closure) (FI), Apollo Bay 1 (AB-1), King Island Blue Dot East (KIBDE) and King Island 7 (KI7).
ScallopRAG and MAC also supported voluntary closure of the bed of juvenile scallops off King Island (JH area) by industry.
These recommendations were supported by ScallopMAC and approved by the Australian Fisheries Management Association.
The fishery opened on 12 July and will close on 31 December 2019.
