Evaluation of two sea scallop suspension culture strategies in the Magdalen Islands
Q-01-06-005
Description
In the late 1980s, two scallop culture techniques were considered in Quebec. Following a scallop culture workshop held in Gaspé in 1988 and a bioeconomic analysis, it was concluded that bottom seeding of scallops was the production strategy that offered, at that time, the best chance of ensuring the viability of commercial operations. The equipment and labour costs of suspension culture were considered to be too high to be commercially viable in the medium term. However, in the last 10 years, the cost of suspension culture structures has decreased significantly, prompting several companies to reconsider suspension culture as a viable culture technique for scallops. The purpose of this project is to compare two sea scallop culture strategies (setting out structures in the spring versus the fall with 0, 1 or 2 cleanings) with various structures installed in lagoon environments and adapted to the commercial practices of scallop aquaculture enterprises in the Magdalen Islands. The culture structures being tested are: "oyster table", "Wang-Joncas lantern", "pocket net", "earring" and "pearl net". Scallop performance (growth, meat yield, product quality and survival at harvest) and production costs will be evaluated for the various types of structure and culture strategies. The project will make it possible to optimize the yield of large-scale suspension culture operations by identifying a culture strategy that promotes scallop growth and survival while reducing production costs.
Program Name
Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP)
Year(s)
2001 - 2005
Ecoregion(s)
Atlantic: Gulf of St. Lawrence, St. Lawrence Estuary
Principal Investigator(s)
Sylvie Brulotte
Email: sylvie.brulotte@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Links
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