Reproduction of hatchery-reared and transplanted wild bay scallops, Argopecten irradians irradians, relative to natural populations

Abstract

Efforts to restore bay scallop populations in the United States throughtransplantation of wild stock and reseeding of hatchery-reared individuals haveincreased due to declines in natural populations, yet little is known of thecomparative spawning patterns and relative reproductive investment of thesedifferent groups. In this study, spawning patterns of wild scallops from asource population in Northwest Harbor, New York and of scallops transplanted toa distant site in the same embayment (Flanders Bay) were similar.Hatchery-reared scallops held in pearl nets in Hallock Bay, New York showed thesame temporal spawning pattern and level of reproductive investment as scallopsfrom adjacent wild populations and wild scallops held in pearl nets. We suggestthat hatchery-reared scallops may be equally valuable as potential broodstockfor reseeding operations as wild scallops of the same size, provided thatappropriate conditioning and rearing practices are maintained. Both wild andhatchery-reared scallops may be transplanted a short period (i.e. 2–4weeks) prior to expected spawning to provide a source of potential broodstockinareas where natural population densities are low.