Bay scallop populations have been declining along the Gulf of
Mexico coast of Florida since at least the 1960s.
The
problem of bay scallop population decline has become so extensive
that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
has closed the state to all commercial fishing for bay scallops and
has severely restricted recreational harvest. In a joint project
with the University of South Florida, scientists at the FWC's Fish
and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) implemented a program to
restore bay scallops throughout much of their natural range in the
state. This program entails collecting spawners from each targeted
restoration site (Sarasota Bay, Tampa Bay, Tarpon Springs,
Homosassa River, and Crystal River), culturing the offspring of
those animals in the laboratory, and then planting those offspring
at the specific site from which the adults were collected. Cultured
scallops are planted in cages at densities up to 100 scallops per
cage (much higher than natural densities), and their growth,
survival, and reproductive development are monitored throughout the
fall spawning season. The primary goal of the restoration program
is to increase the number of "recruits" (young scallops coming into
the population) within each targeted area, thereby increasing
spawner stock for subsequent year classes. A secondary goal of the
project is to develop technology for scallop aquaculture in an
attempt to provide alternative employment for displaced net
fishers.
Visit the
Molluscan Fisheries Section for more information.
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