The Vineyard’s commercial scallopers celebrated a banner year this winter, with some fishermen reporting they harvested the meatiest bay scallops they have seen in decades.

Last year’s bay scallop season ended with mixed results, but fishermen had a reason to be hopeful. In the water there was a large amount of immature scallops that were too young to be harvested.

The select boards in Edgartown, Oak Bluffs and Chilmark all voted this week to set their scalloping dates.

In a recent study, Vineyard bay scallops proved resilient to a parasite that decimated scallops off New York. Researchers say that gives hope for the future of the species.

Island fishermen harvested around 2,500 fewer bushels this year, though local scallopers and fishmongers say it wasn’t all bad news for the fishery, as a lower harvest on- and off-Island prevented the precipitous drop in scallop prices that occurred last year.

As the harvesting season for bay scallops gets underway, Island fishermen and shellfish wholesalers are readying themselves for their annual gamble in a fishery with a reputation for uncertainty.