Repopulation and culture of the pacific calico scallops in Bahia Concepcion, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Abstract

The Pacific Calico scallop, Argopecten ventricosus (Sowerby), is the most important commercial species in Bahia Concepcion. Catches declined steadily from 1991 to 1993 as a result of overexploitation, forcing the adoption of management measures. The Government has now established regulations for exploitation and scallop culture development. In 1994, Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas (CICIMAR) and the Fisheries Department of the Mexican Government initiated research on the feasibility of increasing scallop biomass through a reseeding programme to protect artisanal fishing. The use of onion bags to collect spat in Bahia Concepcion (1988-1994) demonstrated that settlement was cumulative from January to March. At Punta Coloradito, there were two peaks, in January and early March. Commercial collectors were deployed in February at El Indio and in April at El Remate. In June, about one million juvenile scallops were placed in an enclosure, held until mid-August and then released. Mass mortality (>80%) of the scallops was observed in September, increasing to 99% in October. The high water temperature and predators may be responsible for the mortalities.