Synthesis of the 10th ICSR conference: innovation in the exploitation and management of shellfish resources

Abstract

Sustainable exploitation and management of shellfish populations is an important issue for stakeholder groups such as shellfish industry, nature conservation NGO’s and governments. Shellfish culture depends in many cases on natural processes and it often occurs in protected coastal areas, that are also under high pressure by other human activities. Uncertainty in resource availability (recruitment, algal production and quality, space) puts pressure on the industry and asks for sustainable innovations in resource exploitation. For environmental protection, knowledge is required of impacts of shellfish exploitation and of successful methods for restoration and improvement of exploitation. Regulation and management of exploited shellfish resources, particularly in nature conservation areas, is a priority issue for governmental institutions as conflicts of interest are manifest. Knowledge is required of technological and management innovations to contribute to solutions and create new opportunities. These issues have been addressed during the conference in a series of parallel sessions. Session chairs (names in brackets) compiled a comprehensive review of actual research issues that were presented during the sessions. The presentations are summarized in this conference synthesis. For the topic on recruitment (Luca van Duren and Karsten Reise) the primary statement is that the combination of invasive species and climate change launched a revolutionary turnover in coastal shellfish communities. New species profit from changes in climate conditions while existing species suffer from it. Major research topics should focus on the various types of feedback under field conditions: positive when adults provide habitat or substrate for (gregarious) settlement, negative in terms of adult filtration of larvae. More knowledge is needed on secondary migration and settlement, dispersal potential of larvae and loss through flushing. There is a need for practical knowledge to improve spat collection and survival, in order to achieve sustainable exploitation and reduce benthic seed fishery.