If you haven’t tried Maine Dayboat Scallops, then you don’t know what scallops are supposed to taste like.   

While working as a fisheries manager for the state of Maine, Togue realized Maine waters and Maine fishing practices are so unlike those of the much larger Federal fishery, Maine boats are essentially producing a different product. Maine Dayboats must stay within 3 miles of shore and can harvest no more than 135 pounds per trip from December to April. Our scallops fature a pure, sweet flavor that varies by location. Never touching fresh water, their texture is unmatched.  You may actually appreciate the silky, buttery texture even more than the flavor, and that’s saying something!

Management: The state of Maine manages its inshore scallop fishery using daily catch limits, a maximum dredge and ring size and other measures.  Togue was actually responsible for spearheading improvements to Maine’s scallop fishery from 2007 to 2011, leading to a much more sustainable fishery. For more information on scallop management, check the state of Maine’s scallop fishery management page here. In April we begin sourcing from the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area (NGOM), an area Togue and Maine fishermen fought to protect for years before sound  management was enacted in 2019. The NGOM and all Federal waters of the northeastern US are managed by the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC)  and the NOAA Fisheries.  Togue has been a member of the NEFMC since 2020, where she sits on the scallop, monkfish, skate and habitat committees.

Dredge scallops:  Are you concerned about the sustainability of dredging for scallops?  If you think you should select diver scallops over drag-caught scallops, please read this blog.  And bear in mind, scallops tend to favor high energy environments such as those with gravel or sandy bottom.  In the Gulf of Maine, these substrates are turned over regularly by storms and tides, and today’s dredges are designed to skim the surface rather than digging in.  Have more questions?  Feel free to e-mail Togue at togue@downeastdayboat.com.