Since 2017, CFF has conducted annual surveys of the Atlantic sea scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) population across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic utilizing the HabCam v3. This work is a collaboration between CFF scientists and our fishing industry partners in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, with input from government resource managers. The aim of these surveys is to track scallop distribution, survival, and growth to support science-based fisheries management.

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CFF’s Habitat Mapping Camera (HabCam) v3 is a non-invasive imaging system that uses a dual-camera setup to capture high-resolution images of the seafloor. During each survey, the HabCam system is towed continuously, 24 hours a day, capturing approximately four overlapping images per second, or roughly 500,000 images daily. These images can be stitched together to create mosaics of benthic (seafloor) habitats or rendered into 3D visuals. Onboard sensors continuously record environmental data such as conductivity, temperature, and salinity, which are embedded in each image along with GPS coordinates. Therefore, each image is essentially a holistic “snapshot” of the seafloor at a specific place and time.

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Images are analyzed at regular intervals, with sampling stations spaced about 40 meters apart. This provides much finer detail than traditional survey methods. In addition to scallops, the system collects information on key predators, other marine species, sediment characterization, and ocean conditions. The data gathered from these surveys play a direct role in regional fisheries management. They help determine annual fishing quotas, guide allocation decisions, and inform seasonal or emergency closures to ensure the long-term sustainability of the scallop resource.