Scallop Population Higher Than Feds Think

Another nautical census:


BOSTON (AP) - The scallop population from Virginia to the Canadian border is twice what the government estimated, according to a new survey which, if accepted by regulators, could expand fishing for the lucrative shellfish. Researchers found an estimated 550 million pounds of scallops after a three-month survey of about 1,850 sites over 16,000 square nautical miles. Researchers said the survey was more precise than earlier sampling. The project, led by scientists at the School for Marine Science and Technology at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, aimed to bring new certainty to scallop regulation, which fishermen charge involves too much guesswork.

John Boreman, acting science director at the federal National Marine Science Center, said the video count results are intriguing, but its methods need analysis. Boreman said he plans to meet with UMass-Dartmouth scientists in the spring.

The scallop industry gave about $58,000 to the study and donated boats, food and fuel, said the study's lead researcher, Kevin Stokesbury, a UMass marine biologist. He said industry support didn't influence his findings, and noted that the science must still pass rigorous review by the National Marine Fisheries Service to be accepted.

The scallop industry began to rebound in 1999, after the fisheries service reopened closed scalloping grounds. Last year, scallops pulled in $202 million in revenue in the Northeast.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3382875,00.html

:freak:

Although I don't like the idea of researchers getting money from industries that have a stake in the outcome of the research. What would have happened if the research showed population estimates were lower than previously believed?? I guess the fishermen would fund more research??? I see this alot; I work for a state agency and many times the stakeholders say they just don't "believe" the data if it does not say what they want it to say.