Department or Program

Environmental Studies

Abstract

The established Atlantic sea scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) inshore fishery and the growing scallop aquaculture industry compete for access to marine space and scallop larval resources in the Gulf of Maine. Entities concerned with scallop resource management (Maine Department of Marine Resources and fisheries-focused NGOs) are interested in solutions to facilitate wild-aquaculture co-existence. One such NGO, the Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries (MCCF), launched a collaborative research project in 2022 to determine the abundance and distribution of scallop larvae along the Maine coast, involving scallop fishermen and farmers in the process to begin co-existence conversations. Using this project as a case study, this paper utilizes participant observation and coding of meeting notes to analyze the project structure and larval collection site selection process to develop management recommendations for wild-aquaculture co-existence. The coding identifies environmental, regulatory, and social site selection considerations that differ by bay, suggesting the need for ecosystem-based spatial management (EBSM) on a bay level. Spatial planning will be crucial to implementing ecosystem-based scallop management since the site selection considerations focus on avoiding spatial conflict between larval collection activities, scallop fishing, lobstering, conservation, and other marine uses. Literature suggests the core-periphery team structure for the project effectively respects farmer/fisher engagement capacity and that the existing wild scallop co-management structure could be adapted to include aquaculture and an EBSM approach.

Level of Access

Restricted: Embargoed [Open Access After Expiration]

First Advisor

Caitlin Cleaver

Date of Graduation

5-2023

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Number of Pages

68

Components of Thesis

1 pdf file

Community Engagement

1

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