Nursery culture of the bay scallop, Argopecten irradians irradians, in suspended mesh nets

Abstract

Scallops were suspended subtidally in pyramid-shaped (pearl) nets in Long Island Sound, Milford, Connecticut, USA to assess effects of density and temperature at deployment on growth and survival. Juveniles as small as 4 mm were grown at densities ranging from 250 to 15 000/m 2. There was an inverse relationship between the size of the scallops and the density that affected growth. Scallops with a mean shell height of 16–17 mm exhibited no reduction in growth when held at densities as high as 7500/m 2. Similarly, scallops with mean shell heights of 24 to 25 mm exhibited no reduction in growth when held at densities as high as 2500/m 2. Growth of scallops held at biovolumes as high as 1.1 l/net was not affected substantially. Survival typically exceeded 80%, and was not affected by density. Different size groups of juvenile bay scallops were deployed at ambient temperatures of 5, 11.5 and 14 °C. Survival for all but one group was greater than 80%. Deploying scallops early in the season at temperatures lower than 14 °C appears to have no advantage relative to growth.