| dc.description.abstract | An investigation has been started on the Iceland scallop, Chlamys
islandica (O. F. Müller). In northern Norway this species is mainly
found in fjords with a narrow sill at the entrance and on a bottom with
sand, gravel or shells in 10-60 m of depth. Some scallop beds (known
from earlier times) have been extinguished during recent years, probably
because of climatic changes. The Iceland scallop is sexually mature at a
shell height of 30-45 mm and a supposed age of 3 -5 yeras. The sexes
are separate, spawning taking place in July-August. In the localities
investigated, the size of the scallop varied between ten and 105 mm, with
maximum abundance at 45-90 mm.
Distinct growth rings have been interpreted as annual rings. Usually,
scallops from two to 12 years old are present in the beds, the majority
being eight or more years in age. The annual growth has been estimated
to 5-10 mm during the first seven years, gradually decreasing to
1-2 mm in the older scallops. The shell proportions change with increasing
size, the scallops getting relatively thicker, broader. The volume
varies from about ten ml in scallops 45 mm high to 70 ml in 80 mm
scallops, the total weight from ten gr to 65 gr in the same size interval.
The weight of the edible meat, adductor muscle plus gonad, constitutes
15-25 per cent of the total weight. In commercial sized scallops
(60-100 mm) the meat weighs from five to 30 grams.
It is supposed that the scallop beds already mapped will support a
minor commercial fishery. | |
