The potential for ranching the scallop, Pecten maximus - past, present and future: problems and opportunities

Ranching scallops requires a full knowledge of their biology, and this has only evolved during the last half-century. This knowledge needed to be merged with the technological developments of plastics, improved power, improved navigation, and aided by legal implements. Scallop cultivation in hatcheries has greatly contributed to productivity of spat used as a source for several ranching programmes. Depletion of natural scallop populations has made it necessary to consider ranching as a means for creating a sustained resource. Few areas currently have sufficient natural settlements; when these occur, they vary in intensity from year to year. As a result, collections of wild spat cannot provide a consistent source of supply. Movements of spat may need to be controlled to maintain the diversity present in some isolated populations and to reduce disease, disease agents, and parasite transfers. Future opportunities exist for ranching scallops provided there is an improved knowledge of their interactions with other biota. Developments in biotechnology and reduced predation rates are likely to lead to significant increases in production. Flowever, the spread in the range of toxic algal events and exotic species could modify such expectations.

Article from Marine Science Symposia Vol. 215 - 100 years of science under ICES. To access the remaining articles please click on the keyword "MSS Vol. 215".