Growth and production of the venerid bivalve Eurhomalea exalbida in the Beagle Channel, Tierra del Fuego

Abstract

Growth, mortality and productivity of the hard clam Eurhomalea exalbida from Ushuaia Bay, Beagle Channel, were investigated. The parameters of the von Bertalanffy growth function were estimated to be H ∞ = 74 mm, K = 0.18 y −1, t 0 = 0.15 y. Maximum individual production amounted to 2.74 g shell-free wet mass (SFWM) at 49.5 mm shell height. Animals between 40 mm and 70 mm shell height contributed most to overall population somatic production P of 134 g SFWM m −2 y −1. Mean annual biomass B amounted to 1123 g SFWM m −2 y −1. Annual P/B ratio and mortality rate Z were estimated to be 0.12 y −1 and 0.14 y −1, respectively. Slow growth and low turnover make this population less suitable for sustainable commercial exploitation.