{"id":1625,"date":"2019-04-10T10:30:59","date_gmt":"2019-04-10T08:30:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/academy.pittmanseafoods.com\/?p=1625"},"modified":"2019-04-10T09:32:33","modified_gmt":"2019-04-10T07:32:33","slug":"our-visit-to-north-america","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/academy.pittmanseafoods.com\/en\/2019\/04\/our-visit-to-north-america\/","title":{"rendered":"Our visit to North America"},"content":{"rendered":"

As has become an annual custom, Joke Vandepitte, business manager and Jennifer Vermeiren, purchaser visited the Seafood Expo North America<\/a> in Boston in March 2019. Like the Seafood Expo Global<\/a> in Brussels and the China Seafood Expo<\/a>, this fair offers a perfect opportunity to meet suppliers. We took this opportunity to visit our supplier of Atlantic deep-sea scallops, which is located at an hour’s drive from Boston.<\/p>\n

Export of scallops<\/strong><\/p>\n

The United States is one of the major producers of Atlantic deep-sea scallops (Latin name is Placopecten magellanicus<\/em>) in the world and therefore also for Pittman Seafoods. Of the 27,000 (metric) tons of scallops caught last year, an estimated 7,000 (metric) tons or more were exported to countries outside the United States. The catch is expected to rise to almost 30,000 (metric) tons in the coming year. Our supplier is among the top 3 of the world’s largest producers and processes more than 20% of the total volume, which is equivalent to approximately 6,000 (metric) tons.<\/p>\n

It is expected that nearly 70% of the catch will consist of the 10\/20 size in the coming quota year. This means there are 10 to 20 pieces in a Libra Pound (1 Libra Pound or lb is equal to 454 grams). It is furthermore estimated that 20% of the catch will be of the 20\/30 size and that 10% will be of the largest U10\/U12 size (less than 10 or 12 per lb).<\/p>\n

Fishing season <\/strong><\/p>\n

Although the fishing season officially starts on 1 April, scallops may be caught all year round, provided the stringent restrictions are strictly observed. The catch area, which runs along the East Coast of the United States from the border with Canada to Virginia, is for instance subdivided into zones that are closed until the scallops are fully grown. In each zone, the fishing boats are allocated a limited number of fishing days and trips. Each ship may have a maximum of 2 dredges on board of limited dimensions. The mesh size of the dredges must also meet certain minimum dimensions, so that smaller shells can escape. It is therefore no surprise that the American scallop has been certified to use the MSC logo.<\/p>\n