Stock Status -Concern- Landings and fishery independent sampling showed little recruitment in Core and Bogue sounds. Extremely low abundance indices from 2004 indicate a poor fishing year for 2005. A limited opening during August and September in Core Sound in 2004 allowed harvest before the cow nosed ray migration; however, due to unavailability of scallops to the fishery, no landings were made.

Average Commercial Landings and Value 1995-2004 - 48,407 lbs. of meat/$132,740

2004 Commercial Landings and Value - 80 lbs. of meat/$400

Average Recreational Landings 1995-2004 and 2004 -Unknown

Status of Fisheries Management Plan - There is currently no management plan for bay scallops. FMP development is scheduled to begin July 2006.

Research and Data Needs - Recruitment studies, recreational landings data and ray predation studies.

Current Minimum Size Limit (2005) - None

Harvest Season (2005) - When opened from December - May, 20 standard U.S. bushels per person per day not to exceed a total of 40 standard U.S. bushels per day in any combined fishing operation. When opened from August 1 through September 15, no more than 10 standard U.S. bushels per person per day not to exceed a total of 20 standard U.S. Bushels per day in any combined fishing operation. Recreational harvest limits are a bushel per day, not to exceed 2 bushels per vessel per day.

Size and Age at Maturity - 1.5 inches, (shell height)/6 months

Historical and Current Maximum Age - 2 years/1.5 years

Abundance Indices 2004
Core Sound-18.3 (July), 0.7 (Nov.) per two-minute tow
Bogue Sound-5.2 (July), 1.6 (Nov.) per two-minute tow

Habits/Habitats - Bay scallops are estuarine dependent mollusks found in eel grass beds. Bay scallops spawn in early winter and in late spring when water temperatures reach approximately 60° Fahrenheit. The larvae go through several swimming stages before settling onto a suitable substrate such as seagrass. Bay scallops are filter feeders and feed on benthic diatoms. Predators of the bay scallop include the blue crab, starfish and herring gull.