![]() ![]() There is strict legislation on the size and number of dredges used in various areas around the UK.Dredging is the process of removing excess sediment, contaminated sediments and debris from aquatic ecosystems. Although the teeth on the bar at the front of the dredge are about 120mm long only about 20mm of this will penetrate the seabed to flick the scallop out of the sand. ![]() The size selectivity of a scallop dredges can be set by legislation 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 a 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 a 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 being towed behind it. The number can vary from 3 or 4 on a small 10m boat up to 18-20 on a 30m vessel with 1500hp 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 from each side of the vessel. This bag is made of chain links forming a chain mesh on the bottom and usually netting on the top. The dredges consist of a triangular frame, about 750mm wide, with a toothed bar at the front to flip the scallops out of the seabed and into a collecting bag behind it. Each dredge is designed specifically for the fishery and target species. In the UK the main dredge fishery is for king scallops and to a lesser extent queen scallop, mussels, oyster, and razor clams. Dredges are rigid structures that are towed along the seabed to target various species of shellfish. ![]()
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