Scallop catches up over last year

The future of the scallop fishery in the Northumberland Strait may be looking brighter as local fishermen are reporting better catches in 2008 than in recent years.
The scallop fishing season for scallop fishing area (SFA) 22 - which takes in the northwestern portion of the Northumberland Strait runs, including wharves in Port Elgin, Murray Corner, Cape Tormentine and Amos Point - runs from May 1 to June 7, with fishing prohibited on Sundays. There is no maximum quota attached to the scallop fishery.
Long-time fisherman Stewart Field said Saturday that most local fishermen are getting better catches over those of 2007.
"Everyone seems to be doing better. I think it's finally starting to get better all round," Field said, referring to the dismal landings fishermen had been continually reporting for about the past dozen years.
He explained many local fishermen believe that the construction of the Confederation Bridge, beginning in 1993 and culminating with its opening to the public in June 1997, has contributed to the drastic decline in many Northumberland Strait fish species, including scallops, lobster and herring.
"I said when they built the bridge it would take about 15 years for the fish to come back the way they were before (the bridge construction started). And it's been 14 years now and things are finally starting to come around. But it's been tough over the years," Field said.
He said most fishermen have also noted an increase in the number of small scallops now appearing in the strait.
"One thing we do see is there's a lot of small scallops and that's a good sign. We probably haven't seen this since before the bridge was built . . . the water is much cleaner now than it's been for a long time," he said, explaining that cleaner water allows the small scallops easier access to feed.
He added that as recent as just three years ago, area scallop fishermen were unable to fish close to the bridge due to excessive sediment in the water which they believed caused the scallops there to be small in size and poorer in quality.
"But the meat (of the scallops) is good now right up to the bridge, with about a 32 meat count; and that's good."
Although the catches have improved over last year, the price fishermen are receiving from buyers is less, Field said.
"We're getting $6 per pound this year; that's down $1.50 from last year, with a 44 meat count (regulation which states fishermen must have 44 or less scallops to make up a pound). We're paying a lot more for fuel this year and that takes more out of the profits."
He travels about four miles east of the Confederation Bridge to scallop beds in that area which translates to more than two hours sailing time for the return trip.
"We're two-and-a-half weeks into the season now and most draggers will be done in about two weeks. We had a pretty good start to the season but now they're starting to get scarcer. Some of the guys will be out mackerel drifting and some have already been fishing herring before this," he said.
Field is optimistic lobster catches will increase again this year as well.
"We saw a bit of difference in the lobster fishing last year so we're hopeful things are going to be looking better there too. We saw a lot of shorts (young lobsters) last fall and that's the first we've seen in quite a number of years."