Scallops (Pecten novaezelandiae) play an important role in Aotearoa-New Zealand’s coastal marine ecosystem, and they are highly valued as a taonga and fishery species. However, large declines in scallop numbers have occurred, and the main scallop fisheries are currently closed.
In some areas, seabed habitats appear degraded and no longer suitable for scallops, and poor habitat quality is thought to be the main barrier preventing scallop recovery.
In this study, we reviewed knowledge of scallop habitat preferences, and conducted a field experiment to investigate scallop survival and growth in relation to habitat characteristics. The field experiment was conducted in 2018 at a range of sites in Golden Bay and Tasman Bay, at the north of the South Island. Small juvenile scallops (spat) were marked and released at the sites in May, and the sites were surveyed by divers in June and December. Scallop spat survival was very low in muddy/simple habitats, and much higher in sandy/complex habitats.
The study suggests scallop population recovery may only be expected to occur in areas with suitable habitat.
AEBR 342 Habitat factors affecting scallop spat survival and growth in Golden Bay and Tasman Bay
Type
Report - Aquatic Environment and Biodiversity (AEBR)
Published
Last updated
