NANTUCKET BAY SCALLOPS AND SUCH
BY DANIEL W. DRAKE ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
For most people who donned their waders and got their push rakes out of storage, the family scalloping season in October was very rewarding. Scallops were plentiful, and the weather was pretty good, making one of Nantucket's great fall pastimes an enjoyable experience.

The commercial season, which opened on November 1, also has started well. As it turns out, almost too well. The last two seasons have been pretty bad but, despite dire predictions from some quarters about the collapse of the fishery, there have been plenty of scallops this year. More than one scalloper has been reported to have gotten his limit after two or three tows.

And therein lies the rub.

The opening price was $11 per pound. At the end of this past week it was lowered to $9.

This despite the scallop stranding on the beaches in Monomoy and along Hulbert Avenue that happened during "tropical storm" Noel. Such events occur with some regularity during fall and early winter storms. What made the Noel stranding unusual, was the magnitude of the scallops washed ashore and the fact that so many adults were mixed in with the seed scallops that usually wash up.

After the stranding, lots of scallops were returned to the water, but many adults were still left on the beach. People took advantage of the Marine Department's wise decision to let the stranded scallops be "harvested" for personal use. Now there are lots of freezers full of bay scallops.

There was concern that the stranding would have a significant impact on the commercial season, reducing the number of scallops available for harvest later in the winter. Whether that is true, remains to be seen. In the meantime, since the stranding, scallops seem to be just as plentiful as they were before the storm.

Another storm of sorts arose last Friday when the price was lowered to $9 per lb. (It is worth pointing out that, last year, when only about 3,700 bushels were harvested, the price got to $18 per pound.) A meeting was called and about 60 people showed up on Saturday to discuss what to do. It was reported that there was talk of a "strike" by the fishermen, whatever that means. The ultimate outcome seems to have been a strategy to request that the Harbor and Shellfish Advisory Board ("SHAB") meet later this week to consider recommending to the Board of Selectmen that they close the fishery on Fridays (in addition to the weekends when it is closed to commercial scallopers.)

As of Monday afternoon, it was reported that the selectmen planned to be present at the SHAB meeting and would convene immediately thereafter to act on the recommendation.

$9 per pound is about what the scallopers got for most of the bountiful 2004-05 season. During that season, they were also getting their limit early in the morning and for those who hired shuckers (for 20% of the take) they had pretty much the full day ahead of them to work at other employment if they so chose.

Last week, the scallopers' concerns arose, primarily, from two factors. One is that fuel for their boats is almost twice as expensive as it was three years ago. More importantly, the price being paid to scallopers on the Vineyard, which is also reported to be having a good season, has been in the $16-$17 range (although the price on the Vineyard is now $14.) That disparity, coupled with the decrease in the price paid here, got people to ask some questions.

The questions are not new; they center on who determines the price and the factors that go into the determination. Is it a simple question of supply and demand - or is something else going on?

Except for the few who have their own wholesale licenses, all scallopers are required by state law to sell their catch to licensed wholesalers which, on Nantucket, mean four or five of the local seafood dealers. Some of those dealers, in turn, sell at least some of their product to a larger wholesaler in New Bedford, but they also ship directly to other dealers and to restaurants on the mainland, as well as selling scallops locally in their fish stores. The mystery lies in whether the price is determined by the New Bedford wholesaler, who may have a lot of clout - or may not - or by the local dealers. And if it is the local dealers, why are the prices they pay always in lock step? Since none of the dealers will talk about the wholesale pricing structure, it is impossible to know what is happening. For example, do they get a different price for what they may ship to restaurants or retail fish markets than they get from selling to a mainland wholesaler?

Does the same New Bedford wholesaler also buy Vineyard scallops - for the same price or a different price? And so on.

Whatever the answer, the scallopers are feeling put upon and feel that some action is required.

The proposal to close the fishery on Fridays (which seems to have been chosen, ironically, because of the difficulty of shipping off island on Saturday) requires some thought by both the fishermen and the municipal authorities and should not be acted on hastily.

The fishermen have to take into account that the lost revenue from having the fishery closed on Friday, will require that the price go up to at least $11.25 just to break even - and there is no way of predicting where the price will go, particularly if scallops remain plentiful. They need to remember, that most of them roundly booed down a proposal last year to close the fishery for a period in the face of a real shortage of product. They need to consider the implications of getting the town involved in micro-managing the fishery because once it starts, it won't stop.

For its part, the town's officials need to consider whether a hastily applied Band-Aid is prudent. What is the precedent being set? If construction slows down, in the name of preserving jobs, is the Board going to decree that building be limited to four days a week?

There is no ready solution to the dilemma the scallopers are in. One idea, to bolster demand, might be to use some substantial portion of this year's shellfish license fees to engage in some very focused marketing of these gastronomic delights to restaurants and fish markets in America. Now there's a tight clump of eel grass!

The "Lighthouse Keeper" reflects the views of the author and does not necessarily represent the editorial position of The Nantucket Independent or the position of the Nantucket Shellfish Association of which he is an officer. Please send any ideas or comments to drake@nantucketindependent.com.