Commercial scallop culture trials at the pinnace channel aquaculture fisheries reserve, in Southern Australia

Fisheries Victoria facilitated a scallop growing trial at the new 1,000 ha Pinnace Channel Aquaculture Fisheries Reserve (PCAFR) in southern Port Phillip Bay, Victoria. The aim of the trial is to evaluate the Reserves' suitability for scallop culture through a series of commercial trials undertaken by prospective scallop farmers. An industry consortium monitored scallop larvae abundance in the water at the PCAFR for 2 years, in order to determine if it were possible to catch commercial quantities of scallops in "spat-bags." Scallops that were caught at the site were used for a range of growing trials. The trial reported here grew a crop of scallops on two under-water commercial long-lines that were held 10 m below the sea-surface in water that was approximately 20 m deep. The seed scallops collected from spat bags in April 2003 were used to evaluate a range of culture nets and containers. The trials involved PIR Vic undertaking a trial using a "standard" culture method and industry conducting a range of trials using various culture systems. These trials were run concurrently on the sub surface long-lines.