Open AccessRELEASE OF HATCHERY‐REARED BAY SCALLOPS ( Argopecten irradians ) ONTO A SHALLOW COASTAL BOTTOM IN WATERFORD, CONNECTICUT
Author(s) -
Morgan D. E.,
Goodsell J.,
Matthiessen G. C.,
Garey J.,
Jacobson P.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
proceedings of the world mariculture society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.655
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1749-7345
pISSN - 0748-3260
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-7345.1980.tb00119.x
Subject(s) - argopecten irradians , scallop , bay , fishery , biology , callinectes , benthic zone , predation , hatchery , crustacean , oceanography , ecology , geology , fish <actinopterygii>
Survival and growth of hatchery‐reared bay scallops ( Argopecten irradians ) transferred to a shallow coastal area in outer Jordan Cove, Connecticut, were monitored by SCUBA during the summer and fall of 1979. In all, 47,000 bay scallops were released over 4 sequential seedings. Based on slopes derived from linear regression models the time to 50% loss of bay scallops from the release areas was less than one day for juveniles ≤22 mm and ≥6 days for scallops ≥24 mm. Significant (α = 0.05) reductions in the rate of loss occurred as scallop size increased at release. Scallops released with shell heights >45 mm had the lowest rates of loss. Both predation and dispersion effected these loss rates. Predation of scallops was attributed to the following benthic invertebrates: 6 species of crabs ( Cancer borealis, Cancer irroratus, Carcinus maenus, Callinectes sapidus, Pagurus pollicarpus, Pagurus longicarpus ), lobsters ( Homarus americanus ), 2 species of oyster drills ( Urosalpinx cinerea and Eupleura caudata ) and sea stars ( Asterias forbesi ). These predators contributed to most of the losses of bay scallops ≤22 mm and at least 20–50% of the losses in scallops ≥24 mm. Dispersion consisted of a northwest drift of scallops across the field study areas, which was probably enhanced by current patterns. Growth of bay scallops from October 3–24 was 0.26 mm/day and the rate of growth slowed as the water temperature dropped below 15°C.