The Scottish Scallop Strategy Group, which is subsumed under the Scottish Fisheries Council, considers a number of issues affecting the Scottish scallop sector. Predominantly, those examined by the group include stock levels and the impact of scallop fishing on the marine environment whilst exploring ways of maximising the returns from the catch and the competitiveness in a global market of a high quality product.
The Group has an independent chair and its membership draws from a wide range of industry stakeholders on a geographical basis including large operators, smaller/artisanal operators, divers and processors, working alongside scientists, environmental representatives, marketing advisors and government officials.
The work is taken forward by the whole group via three 'thematic' sub-groups working in detail on specific issues:
1) environmental impact of scallop fishing practices and scallop science;
2) marketing; and
3) review of the scallop technical conservation measures.
The full Strategy Group convenes around twice a year as appropriate (in May and November in 2008), whilst the sub-groups meet as necessary between these times.
Scallop Facts and Figures:
- Queenies & king scallops (combined) are the 2nd most valuable shellfish species. Additionally, they are 4th most valuable over all species after Nephrops, Mackerel and Haddock. They are also slightly more valuable than monkfish.
- The total value of scallops landed in the UK in 2007 was £40m compared to £34.6m in 2006
- The value of scallop landings in Scotland in 2007 increased to £18.2m from £17.8m in 2006