This is just the kind of headline guaranteed to to raise the hackles of any scallop fisherman!
The percentage of dive-caught scallops probably does not make 1% of the UK landings in a year - to insist that the general public, 'only buy' dive caught is tantamount to insanity - it isnt going to happen!
See the full story and enjoy the ensuing debate - below, is an extract from the Guradian's article:
As methods of food gathering go, putting on scuba gear mid-winter and plunging beneath the icy waves of our coastal waters in search of shellfish must rank as among the most extreme. But I'm glad there are people doing it, because they're bringing us one of our most prized seafood delicacies: scallops. And they are doing it in a sustainable way, picking these palm-sized shells individually off the seabed, without disturbing the sea life or marine habitat around them.
Although there is no strict season for scallops, they're at their best in the colder months, so January seems a particularly good time to indulge. I say "indulge" because they ain't cheap. Many are gathered by dredging, and these start at around 75p apiece, but the more sustainable, diver-caught ones are often double that. As so often with food, the environmentally sound option costs more, leaving those who champion it open to accusations of elitism.
I'll take that on the chin, because the increasing pressures of scallop-dredging inshore waters is one of the most worrying issues in UK marine conservation.
Dredging involves dragging heavy, steel-toothed frames over the seabed to dislodge the scallops. This disturbs and damages other species, including corals and sponges that would otherwise make a rich benthic habitat of this environment. Constant combing and tumbling of the sand and rocks makes it impossible for marine fauna to get a hold. Areas of the seabed regularly dredged for scallops are almost devoid of other forms of life. One of the few species that seems able to tolerate this disturbance is the scallops themselves, so dredging suits the dredgers by creating a monoculture at the expense of other species.
Devon Scallops added their informed point of view:
Without scallop boats and only hand dived ones........
The Fish market would not exist
Economy locally and nationally would take a massive downturn
The general public simply would be out priced to be able to afford them
What about all the fishermen and their families what do we do sink our boats?
What about the wholesalers the fish mongers? Go bust?
What about the folk on the quayside cutting these scallops out? Jobless?
What about the business that supply and make the gear?
Economy locally and nationally would take a massive downturn
The general public simply would be out priced to be able to afford them
What about all the fishermen and their families what do we do sink our boats?
What about the wholesalers the fish mongers? Go bust?
What about the folk on the quayside cutting these scallops out? Jobless?
What about the business that supply and make the gear?
In 2010, the UK fleet landed 43,000 tonnes of Scallops, worth an estimated £54m into UK ports (Marine Management Organisation statistics) with over 98% of these Scallops being caught by vessels using dredges and a much smaller amount harvested by divers.
Over 98% of Scallops in the UK are caught by vessels using dredges and with UK landings of Scallops reaching £54 m in 2010, Scallops are now the fourth most valuable part of the UK fleet catch.
The standard Scallop dredge in effectively a large rake consisting of a 2ft 6in wide metal frame fitted with a row of spaced teeth on the leading edge, which are fitted to a spring mounted bar. The spring means that if the dredge encounters any hard objects or obstructions on the seabed is allows the teeth to hinge backwards preventing the dredge from becoming stuck and to prevent damage to gear and seabed. A number of dredges are attached to two poles which are towed behind the vessel. The number of dredges towed is strictly regulated and can vary from area to area depending on local byelaws.
The dredge is typically used on soft sand or shingle sediments and rakes Scallops off the seabed or just below the surface which are the collected by a collecting bag made of chain mail or netting.
Areas
The areas in which scallop dredges can be used are strictly controlled with fragile seabed species and habitats being protected by Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) under the European Natura 2000 and proposed Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) under the UK Marine Act.
I am pig sick of articles that don't contain the facts and also make a mockery of one of the most dangerous jobs in the world, all to bring an excellent source of healthy food the peoples plates.
Finally yes you can buy scallops direct from the fishermen we are proof of this!
