The bay scallop (Argopecten irradians) industry collapse in Virginia and its implications for the successful management of scallop-seagrass habitats |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4123, United States;2. The Nature Conservancy, Nassawadox, VA 23413, United States;3. Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA 23062, United States;1. University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, School for Marine Science and Technology, 836 South Rodney French Blvd, New Bedford MA 02744 USA;2. NOAA Fisheries, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 166 Water St, MB 19, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA;1. Department of Marine and Ecological Sciences, Florida Gulf Coast University, 10501 FGCU Blvd. South, Fort Myers, FL 33965, USA;2. Université de Brest, UBO, CNRS, IRD, Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer, LEMAR, Rue Dumont d''Urville, Plouzané, France;1. Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research and Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Australia;2. Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries & Aquaculture, College of Marine & Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Cairns, Australia;3. College of Arts, Society and Education, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia;4. National Fisheries College, National Fisheries Authority, Kavieng, Papua New Guinea;5. National Fisheries Authority, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea;1. Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, PO Box 18-B, La Paz, B. C. S., 23081, Mexico;2. Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR), Calle IPN 195, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, 23096, La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico |
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| Abstract: | Virginia supported the most productive bay scallop (Argopecten irradians) fishery in the United States in 1930, but the fishery disappeared three years later and never recovered. This collapse highlights a tipping point, but managers of extant bay scallop fisheries have not looked to this case for guidance, because the collapse has long been attributed to an exogenous eelgrass (Zostera marina) ‘wasting disease’ pandemic. Consequently, it remains little understood. However, efforts to restore the fishery, following successful eelgrass restoration, now warrant a thorough examination of its economic significance and disappearance. This study comprehensively surveyed information on the original fishery and reconstructed the pre-collapse population to evaluate restoration prospects and management strategies that reduce the risk of future scallop-seagrass system collapses. Harvest records suggest that overharvesting possibly contributed to the Virginia fishery disappearance—a factor that influenced other bay scallop fisheries but did not alarm contemporary managers in Virginia. The harvest peaked before managers observed eelgrass disappearing and exceeded most pre-collapse population estimates. Intensive dredging possibly precipitated a feedback that reduced scallop recruitment by lowering seagrass shoot densities. Managers should, therefore, consider a potential tradeoff between future scallop harvest and eelgrass restoration goals. The restored wild scallop population in Virginia cannot yet support a commercial fishery at historic levels, which removed between 270 and 380x as many individuals. However, the economic risks associated with reestablishing this fishery are low. The collapse did not cause a significant loss in total economic value, because harvesters rapidly shifted focus to clams, supplanting lost scallop revenue. |
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| Keywords: | Scallops Eelgrass Overfishing Shellfish Historical ecology Population collapse |
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