Disco Scallops (Scallop Potting: A regional, At-Scale Pilot)

Status: Active

Start Date: November 2024

Lead Organisation: Offshore Wind Industry Council

Fishtek found scallops love ‘disco’ lights and were successful in developing a new fishing technique. With further refinements to the trap and light design, through experimentation this year, Fishtek have increased scallop catch rates by 500% from their first published attempts. They are now in a position to get scallop potting rolled out at a regional scale. Based on trial data, Fishtek are confident that this will provide the evidence base to demonstrate that static gears can be used in areas where mobile gears are restricted (OWF, MPAs etc). Fishtek intend to equip 15-20 boats fishing out of the northeast with 150 scallop pots each (2,250 pots in total). With this effort, they expect to see landings of 6,000-10,000, pot-caught scallops a week.