The size selectivity of a scallop dredge can be set by regulating on the size of the chain rings used for the bellies. In other areas, specific styles of dredges are used to target oysters and mussels. Dredges to target queen scallop tend to be larger and lighter made than dredges for king scallop, and they do not have the tooth bar to disturb the seabed. There are various other types of dredges used in the UK to target other species of shellfish. They will land at any port close to the fishing grounds, and overland their catch by road to the processing factory. In recent years, many beam trawlers have been converted to enable them to tow scallop gear.Īlthough the majority of scallop vessels are registered to a few ports scattered throughout the UK, they are quite nomadic in their fishing patterns, tending to move to where there is good fishing of scallops at that particular time. The vessels and rigging are very similar to that of beam trawling, with the beam trawls being replaced by the steel bar with multiple dredges towed behind it. The number can vary from three or four on a small 10m boat, up to 18 to 20 on a 30m vessel with a 1500 horsepower engine. The length of bar and number of dredges is dictated by the power of the vessel and its length of side deck to work the dredges over. Several of these dredges are towed behind a heavy spreading bar, usually one bar from each side of the vessel. A scallop dredge: the teeth on the bar at the front flip the scallops out of the sand into the bag behind.
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