CFF Receives New Funding to Expand Electronic Monitoring in the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery

FY206 NFWF Award Announcement 

The Coonamessett Farm Foundation (CFF) recently received additional funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s competitive Electronic Monitoring and Reporting Grant Program to further expand the use of electronic monitoring (EM) technologies in the Atlantic sea scallop fishery. 

In addition to the $489,900 award from NFWF to support project objectives, fishing partners have pledged a combined cost-share of $756,000 underscoring their commitment to these efforts during the project period. 

In July 2024, CFF and Saltwater Inc. launched a two-year pilot project, funded by NFWF (Grant ID 0303.24.082181), to evaluate the feasibility of EM system integration aboard commercial scallop vessels. With six voluntarily participating vessels operating from New Bedford, MA Barnegat Light, NJ and Cape May, NJ the initiative represents the first cross-regional EM project of its kind within the scallop industry. 

Newly awarded funding will support expansion of the project to include additional vessels home ported in Beaufort, NC and Point Pleasant, NJ. CFF will also evaluate the use of a mobile camera system developed by Saltwater Inc. in New Bedford increasing overall participation from six vessels to an estimated 12 – 14 vessels across the fleet.

As part of the project scope, electronic measuring boards designed and built in collaboration with Acbotics Research, equipped with dual cameras and machine vision technology will be integrated into the suite of EM data collection tools. Additional data streams will include eMOLT environmental sensors that record temperature and depth data, video and sensor data, and annotated haul-level catch information completed by experienced video analysts. The CFF research team, led by Dr. Andrew Corso, has submitted an application for an Exempted Fishing Permit to develop a trial incentive package for EM vessel participants. 

Stock assessment biologists with NOAA Fisheries have identified a decline in scallop biomass over consecutive years, likely influenced by environmental factors including rising ocean temperatures in addition to a predator population surge in species like sea stars and crabs that prey heavily upon juvenile scallops. Fishing practices such as prolonged tow-times, deck loading, and high grading are also known to negatively impact scallop beds and the survivability of discarded animals. 

The use of EM is widely considered a successful tool for reducing monitoring costs while improving data collection, vessel trip coordination and safety. This project seeks to develop a better understanding of implementation costs while also evaluating an incentive-based approach that could provide a broader range of data to support management decisions. 

Learn more about our EM Project

Read the NFWF Award Announcement