Scallops are strong and rich in flavour with a medium–firm texture.
They are popular grilled or barbecued. Grill under a salamander, then drizzle with lime juice and olive oil, or sprinkle with fresh lemon zest and cracked pepper.
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Catch limits
| Catch limit | Fishing Mortality* | Biomass** |
|---|---|---|
|
Commercial Scallop Catch Limit 3,905 tonnes |
G;Not subject to overfishing | G;Not overfished |
|
Doughboy Scallop Catch Limit 100 tonnes |
G;Not subject to overfishing | G;Not overfished |
* Fishing mortality status relates to the level of fishing pressure on a stock — specifically, whether fishing mortality in the year being assessed is likely to result in the stock becoming overfished or prevent the stock from rebuilding from an overfished state. If fishing mortality exceeds either of these thresholds, a stock is considered to be subject to overfishing.
** Biomass status relates to how many fish there are — specifically, whether the biomass in the year being assessed is above the level at which the risk to the stock is considered to be unacceptable. The HSP defines this level as the limit reference point, below which the stock is considered to be overfished.
Scientific name: Pecten fumatus
Family: Pectinidae
Other names: Southern scallop, Tasmanian scallop, king scallop
Description: Commercial scallops have thin, equal-sized, circular shaped shells with about 15 radiating ribs. The lower valve (shell) is paler and more curved than the upper valve. The shell can be covered with irregular brownish patterning.
Size (length and weight): Up to 14.5 cm in shell height. Commonly found at 8‑9 cm in shell height. Growth rates vary depending on location.
Life span: Up to 10 years, but usually less than seven years. Wild populations have been known to die off rapidly after only 3‑5 years.
Habitat: Commercial scallops are found buried in soft sediment ranging from mud to coarse sand. Scallops aggregate into beds and bury themselves so that only the top shell is visible. The orientation of scallop beds may be influenced by tidal currents. Commercial scallops are mainly found at depths of 10-20 metres but may also occur down to 120 metres. While mainly sedentary, scallops can swim by rapidly opening and closing their shells, usually when disturbed by predators.
Prey: Plankton and detritus.
Predators: Starfish, whelks and octopus.
Reproduction: Commercial scallops reach reproductive maturity after one year, but do not spawn until the second year. Spawning is thought to be triggered by a sudden increase in water temperature. Spawning occurs over an extended period during winter and spring. Commercial scallops are hermaphrodites and ‘broadcast spawners’ that release gametes into the water. There is a delay between the release of eggs and sperm to prevent self-fertilisation. Fecundity increases with shell size and age. An individual can produce up to one million eggs during spawning.
Scientific name: Chlamys asperrimus (also known as Mimachlamys asperrima)
Family: Pectinidae
Other names: Sponge scallop, prickly scallop
Description: Doughboy scallops have equal-sized, circular shaped shells with 20‑26 radiating ribs, and two small wings at the hinge. Both shells are convex. Shells vary in colour from orange to pink, with bright blue eyes around the edge.
Size (length and weight): Up to 11 cm in shell height. Growth rates vary depending on location.
Life span: Unknown, although other related scallops live for up to 14 years.
Habitat: Doughboy scallops are found buried in soft sediment ranging from mud to coarse sand, usually attached to solid objects by byssal threads. Scallops aggregate into beds and bury themselves so that only the top shell is visible. The orientation of scallop beds may be influenced by tidal currents. Doughboy scallops can be found at depths of about 2-110 metres. While mainly sedentary, scallops can swim by rapidly opening and closing their shells, usually when disturbed by predators. Doughboy scallops often have sponges growing on top of their shell.
Prey: Plankton and detritus.
Predators: Starfish, whelks and octopus.
Reproduction: Doughboy scallops reach reproductive maturity after about one year. Spawning occurs over an extended period during winter and spring. Doughboy scallops have separate sexes and are ‘broadcast spawners’ that release gametes into the water. Fecundity increases with shell size and age. Females produce about 800 000 eggs during spawning.
| Fishery | Gear | Catch of this species is targeted or incidental |
|---|---|---|
| Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery | Towed dredge | Targeted |
Scallops are managed by a total allowable catch and seasonal and spatial closures. The catch limit restricts the total weight of scallops that can be caught each season and is apportioned between individual fishers. Management arrangements, including catch limits and closure areas are developed each season by AFMA in consultation with the Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Management Advisory Committee and the Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Resource Assessment Group.
Commercial scallops are caught in the Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery, in the Bass Strait between Tasmania and Victoria. Commercial scallops are also caught in the Victorian and Tasmanian managed scallop fisheries that lie within 20 nm of their respective coasts.
Scallops are harvested from muddy to coarse sandy seafloors.
There are low levels of bycatch or other species caught in the Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery. No threatened, endangered and protected species were identified in the ecological risk assessment report as being high risk in the Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery.
Gear
Catch allowance
| Species | 2020 TAC (tonnes) | 2020 actual catch (tonnes) | 2021 TAC (tonnes) | 2021 actual catch (tonnes) | 2022 TAC (tonnes) | 2022 actual catch (tonnes) |
| Commercial scallop | 3000 | 2732 | 3905 | 2344 | 3862 | 432 |
| Doughboy scallop | 100 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 100 | 0 |
Download data on annual catch and effort from AFMA logbooks.
GVP
$A 4.6 million (2020–21)
Want to know more?
This is just an overview of scallops, if you want to know more see the links below.
This fish is managed under the Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery.
- See the most recent Fishery status report
- Download raw data on annual catches from AFMA catch disposal records and AFMA daily fishing logbooks
- Scallop Resource Assessment Group
- Scallop Management Advisory Committee
- Bycatch and discard program
- Visit the FRDC Fishfiles website for the best cooking techniques and recipes for this fish