Commercial scallop fishing in the Bass Strait commenced in the early 1970s and is managed under three jurisdictions. AFMA manages the Central Zone fishery, and Victoria and Tasmania manage zones generally out to 20 nm off their respective coastlines.

The main markets for Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery (BSCZSF) scallops have historically been France, Hong Kong, the United States of America and the domestic market. The principal harvest method is by a scallop harvester (or dredge).

Within the BSCZSF there are two species of scallop covered by quota. The fishery targets the commercial scallop, Pecten fumatus, however, the smaller doughboy scallop, Chlamys (Mimachlamys) asperrimus, is common throughout Bass Strait but are rarely retained. Each species has a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) set annually.

• Policy and planning
• Management Advisory Committee
• Resource Assessment Group