RESTORATION OF BAY SCALLOP (ARGOPECTEN IRRADIANS (LAMARCK)) POPULATIONS IN FLORIDA COASTAL WATERS: PLANTING TECHNIQUES AND THE GROWTH, MORTALITY AND REPRODUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT OF PLANTED SCALLOPS

Abstract

Abstract Bay scallops (Argopecten irradians [Lamarck]) are a culturally and economically important component of Florida's nearshore marine community. However, many of the local populations that compose the bay scallop metapopulation in Florida have virtually disappeared since the 1950s. This study reports the results of a 3-year effort to restore bay scallop populations at 4 sites along the west central coast of the state (Tampa Bay, Anclote, Homosassa and Crystal River). During late summer of 1997, 1998 and 1999, wild adult scallops were retrieved from each of those four target sites and induced to spawn in the laboratory. The resultant offspring were grown to at least 20-mm shell height in a nursery setting and then transplanted to cages deployed at the site where their parents were originally harvested. The growth, survival and reproductive development of the planted scallops were recorded on an approximate 6-week schedule. Results suggest that caged scallops generally grew more slowly than their wild ...