Abstract
SUMMARY: The population of the scallop Argopecten purpuratus in Mejillones Bay, Chile (23°S) was estimated using diving-quadrat techniques between July and August 1999. The population, distributed over an area of 255 ha, was estimated at about 18 * 106 individuals, having a mean length of about 68 mm. Of this number, about 16 * 106 individuals were aggregated into a core area of 51 ha. A subsequent controlled harvest carried out in 33.5 ha of this area in November 2000 produced only 2 * 105 individuals, strongly suggesting that large scale clandestine (illegal) harvesting had occurred since the original population survey. Reseeding of collected scallops was carried out in an interior area of the bay which had low densities of scallops but highly similar physical and chemical seawater characteristics. Post-seeding mortality of the translocated scallops, determined two weeks after the transfer, was 12.5%, with a mean of 2.5 indiv./m 2 in an 8.2 ha area. The low initial mortality, compared with values in the literature, suggested that the methods of retrieval, transport, and restocking the scallops could serve as a viable repopulation strategy in other areas in the future.
Highlights
Argopecten purpuratus (Lamarck, 1819), distributed from Paita, Perú (5°S) to Valparaíso Chile (33°S)(Marincovich, 1973), is a scallop of high commercial value
Phenomenon, A. purpuratus may experience a shortTRANSLOCATION OF ARGOPECTEN PURPURATUS 285 ening of its larval period as well as reduction of larval, juvenile, and adult mortality due to lowered predation and competition, which produces unusual population booms
FIG. 1. – Location of the distributional area of Argopecten purpuratus in Mejillones Bay, evaluated in August 1999, showing the donor and receptor areas for the scallops translocated in November 2000
Summary
(Marincovich, 1973), is a scallop of high commercial value. This species was recognised by Wolff (1987). In periods of unusual warming of coastal waters off S. Phenomenon, A. purpuratus may experience a shortTRANSLOCATION OF ARGOPECTEN PURPURATUS 285 ening of its larval period as well as reduction of larval, juvenile, and adult mortality due to lowered predation and competition, which produces unusual population booms. Scallop populations of Mejillones and Antofagasta Bays in Chile supported an extraction of 4200 TM in 1984, representing 82% of the record (5000 TM) catch in Chile that year (Avendaño and Cantillanez,1997). Fishing pressure stimulated by the high yields obtained in years following the 198283 El Niño event quickly reduced the catch to 1410
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