Evaluation of an Iceland scallop (Chlamys islandica) transfer and grow-out strategy in the Mingan Archipelago

Description

The Iceland scallop fishery is an important commercial activity on the Middle North Shore. However, landings have stagnated over the last 10 years or so and are even declining in the Mingan Archipelago. To address this situation, in 1996, local fishers came up with the concept of an Iceland scallop grow-out facility to ensure the sustainable development of their business. More specifically, their project was aimed at moving Iceland scallops from unexploited beds with low growth to fast growing sites. To move the project forward, DFO carried out preliminary activities to measure scallop growth in three different beds between 1997 and 2000 in the Mingan Archipelago sector. The results obtained would appear to indicate that the low growth measured on certain beds is due largely to site effects. They also seem to suggest that the effect on growth is reversible when scallops are moved and held in a more favourable environment. This project consists of examining the growth of suspension cultured scallops in various locations in the Mingan Archipelago as a function of environmental conditions. The specific results of the project will be used to identify and characterize bottom grow-out sites and to assess the potential of the grow-out sites and of two aquaculture areas for the growth of farmed Iceland scallops. The overall feasibility of Iceland scallop culture will also be assessed.

Program Name

Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP)

Year(s)

2001 - 2004

Ecoregion(s)

Atlantic: Gulf of St. Lawrence, St. Lawrence Estuary

Principal Investigator(s)

Sylvie Brulotte
Email: sylvie.brulotte@dfo-mpo.gc.ca