The ecology and fishery of Tapes philippinarum (Adams and Reeve, 1850) in Poole Harbour, UK
The ecology and fishery of Tapes philippinarum (Adams and Reeve, 1850) in Poole Harbour, UK
The introduction of Tapes philippinarum, (the manila clam) into Poole Harbour in 1988 for aquaculture produced an unexpected environmental impact in the form of a naturalised fishery. It was thought that this non-indigenous species would be unable to reproduce, as low water temperatures would prevent the gonads reaching full sexual maturity. However, the farmed population did successfully mature, spawn and produce viable spat. The spat settled around the Harbour where a suitable substrate i.e. soft mud could be found. This occurred in successive years and a naturalised population developed and successfully reproduced themselves. By 1994, local fishers began to exploit the naturalized population and the fishery became licensed by the local fisheries managers. The fishery now supports 31 local fishers, landing approximately 250 tonnes of clams in 2002 with an estimated market value of £4.5 million GBP.
The aims of the project are to provide biological support for fisheries’ advice in order to sustain the fishery. The study aims to detail the life cycle of the Manila clam in Poole Harbour and provide distribution and density information. Work describes the gonadal development, fertilization kinetics and spawning. Biochemical indices were used to examine condition index and lipid storage.
Tapes philippinarum are mainly found in the Western Harbour at an average density of 18m-2. Clams become sexually mature at 15mm+ or after two summers of growth (13 to 21 months after settlement). Histological sections indicate that the population is in reproductive condition between April and October spending approximately two to three weeks as larvae in the plankton (Pers. comm. John Bayes). This infers that settlement occurs between June and October. Clams are spawning, successful fertilisation is taking place, larvae are setting and being recruited into the population although the population structure study indicates that settlement is not guaranteed everywhere, every year.
University of Southampton
Grisley, Charlotte
1c5e6f85-9453-49ea-9d7e-147bd68295e1
2003
Grisley, Charlotte
1c5e6f85-9453-49ea-9d7e-147bd68295e1
Grisley, Charlotte
(2003)
The ecology and fishery of Tapes philippinarum (Adams and Reeve, 1850) in Poole Harbour, UK.
University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.
Record type:
Thesis
(Doctoral)
Abstract
The introduction of Tapes philippinarum, (the manila clam) into Poole Harbour in 1988 for aquaculture produced an unexpected environmental impact in the form of a naturalised fishery. It was thought that this non-indigenous species would be unable to reproduce, as low water temperatures would prevent the gonads reaching full sexual maturity. However, the farmed population did successfully mature, spawn and produce viable spat. The spat settled around the Harbour where a suitable substrate i.e. soft mud could be found. This occurred in successive years and a naturalised population developed and successfully reproduced themselves. By 1994, local fishers began to exploit the naturalized population and the fishery became licensed by the local fisheries managers. The fishery now supports 31 local fishers, landing approximately 250 tonnes of clams in 2002 with an estimated market value of £4.5 million GBP.
The aims of the project are to provide biological support for fisheries’ advice in order to sustain the fishery. The study aims to detail the life cycle of the Manila clam in Poole Harbour and provide distribution and density information. Work describes the gonadal development, fertilization kinetics and spawning. Biochemical indices were used to examine condition index and lipid storage.
Tapes philippinarum are mainly found in the Western Harbour at an average density of 18m-2. Clams become sexually mature at 15mm+ or after two summers of growth (13 to 21 months after settlement). Histological sections indicate that the population is in reproductive condition between April and October spending approximately two to three weeks as larvae in the plankton (Pers. comm. John Bayes). This infers that settlement occurs between June and October. Clams are spawning, successful fertilisation is taking place, larvae are setting and being recruited into the population although the population structure study indicates that settlement is not guaranteed everywhere, every year.
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Published date: 2003
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Local EPrints ID: 465272
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/465272
PURE UUID: 453d5d2a-8b95-4015-b554-3c4c0b7c39f6
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Date deposited: 05 Jul 2022 00:34
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 20:04
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Author:
Charlotte Grisley
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