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 SCALLOPS OVERVIEW
ISL's main product is the "Pacific scallop", which is a hybrid of the imported Japanese scallop (Patinopecten = Mizuhopecten yessoensis) and the local weathervane scallop (Patinopecten caurinus). Between 1993 and 1999, ISL developed this new scallop using Japanese scallops that were imported under quarantine in the early 1990's. This unique scallop is marketed as the Pacific scallop and is one of the largest scallops in the world, reaching sizes of 15 cm and 500 grams.
The scallop species farmed by Island Scallops has a proven record of being disease resistant, with a 95% survival rate during the grow-out phase. The company has the necessary farming infrastructure to significantly increase its scallop production to 25 million scallops annually by the fall of 2007. Given the high worldwide demand for scallops, ISL is poised to rapidly expand production and significantly increase revenues and earnings.
Scallop Economics
The Pacific scallop is sold live in four sizes: extra small, small, medium and large. Pricing ranges from a low of US$1.20 per pound to $2.80 per pound for the larger sized scallops. Previously, ISL also produced shucked meats with or without roe. However, due to the large demand and high value for live scallops, meat product was discontinued and the company is currently focusing on the sale of live scallops.
The Scallop Farming Process
The basis for the scallop farming production increase is the shift from net culture to the Japanese method of "ear hanging". This method employs a small plastic pin, which attaches a pair of scallops to a vertical "down line" that is suspended from a horizontal mainline. Each down line holds 250 scallops and each mainline holds 400 down lines for a total of 100,000 scallops per mainline. Each farm has between 20 and 50 mainlines enabling production of between two and five million scallops per farm.
The advantages of this method are improved growth rate, increase in culture capacity per mainline (from 35,000 in nets to 100,000 ear hung) and, most significantly, the rapid ease of harvesting. Present harvesting rates are 5,000 lbs per 4 four man-days using nets as opposed to 8,000 lbs in one man day for ear hanging. This improvement in material handling allows for ease of processing and increased ability to access a larger live market.
Below are photos of the ear hanging process showing a scallop attached to a rope downline (left) and automated hole drilling technology (middle and right).
Scallop Seed Production
The production of the Pacific scallop relies entirely upon Island Scallops' hatchery production of seed. The method of seed production was first introduced in the 1980's by researchers at the Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo. Island Scallops successfully commercialized the results of this research and now is the sole producer of Pacific scallop seed.
The scallop broodstock is conditioned in tanks by manipulating photoperiod, water temperature, and feeding so that they spawn at an expected time. The larvae are then reared in a tank and fed algae until they are ready to settle, which takes about 21-28 days. At the setting stage, seed collectors are placed into the tanks where the setting larvae attach. The seed collectors are actually strings of artificial seaweed. The seed is transferred to the farm once they reach 2-3mm in size. The optimal nursery rearing months are February to September.
 Scallop "Life Cycle"
 Comparison of an approximately one year-old scallop (center) prior to ear hanging for the grow out phase and two mature harvested scallops after five months of ear hanging growth.
Bruce Evans holding a single line of ear hung scallops Scallop Farm Sites
Island Scallops has a total of five farm sites for scallops. Three scallop farms are located in Baynes Sound, 25 minutes north of the main facility. These farm sites total 205 acres and are capable of producing 16-20 million scallops annually. Approximately 30% of the farm area is currently being farmed. An additional bottom tenure of 926 acres is located 10 minutes north of the main facility and is capable of producing at least 30 million scallops annually. One farm site on the west coast of Vancouver Island near Tofino is capable of producing at least six million scallops; this site is currently under-developed.
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 SCALLOPS  OVERVIEW BLACK COD GENERAL FISHERIES |
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