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Evaluation of biological and economical aspects of the culture of the scallop Lyropecten (Nodipecten) nodosus in suspended and bottom culture

Abstract:

We examined growth and survival of scallops Lyropecten nodosus, initially measuring 40 mm in shell length, over 4.5 months of grow-out period (from mid June to late October 1997) in four types of enclosures: in sacs, cones, lantern nets suspended at 6 m in depth and in 1 x 1 m corrals setup at 6 m in depth on the bottom. In all four treatments, the scallops were initially placed in the enclosures at about the same density (covering about one-third of the bottom of the enclosures). Growth of the shell and somatic tissues was greatest in sacs and cones, intermediate in lantern nets and least in bottom corrals, and cumulative mortality was greater in the bottom corrals than in the three types of suspended enclosures. An analysis of the economic profitability of different culture strategies indicated that after 4.5 months of grow-out, none of the four culture methods would be economically viable for a culture industry marketing the muscle (or the muscle and gonad together). However, the industry would be viable if whole scallops in the shell were marketed. The production would be most profitable if the scallops were cultured in cones suspended in the water column, due to the rapid rates of tissue growth, high rate of survival and low equipment costs associated with using this culture method. © 2003 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.