Effect of emerged shipment on the physiological condition of the adductor muscle in adult giant lion's paw scallop Nodipecten subnodosus (Sowerby 1835)

Abstract

Currently, there is an increasing interest in shipping live adult scallops to markets and broodstock to hatcheries; nevertheless, information about the shipping effect on live scallops physiology is very scarce. In a previous study, a method in emersion was developed to ship scallop seed out of water, but it was not known whether this method is useful to transport adult organisms. As a consequence, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of transportation by the emersion method on the physiological status of the adductor muscle of adult giant lion's paw scallop. Live specimens were packaged in a container and transported in emersion for 11 h. Six scallops were frozen in a farm and a similar number were frozen as soon as they arrived to the laboratory. Physiological indices were determined in each lot and the survival was estimated 24 h after re-immersion. As a result of the transportation, a significant loss (P<0.05) of total carbohydrates, glycogen, adenosine 5′-triphosphate and adenilated energetic charge, and a significant increase (P<0.05) in the free amino acids concentration were observed. Eighty-eight per cent survival was achieved; therefore, we conclude that this method is appropriate for shipping live adult scallops of Nodipecten subnodosus.