Contribution a l'étude du pétoncle (Chlamys varia L.)

The scallop Chlamys varia L. is a common shellfish of the Atlantic coast, a little rarer in the English Channel. It forms large banks in the roadstead of Brest and in the area of La Rochelle, along the north-eastern coast of the Isle of Ré, as well as between the Isle of Oléron and the continent. Some very depopulated banks can still be found in the Arcachon Bay and in some parts of the Mediterranean coast.Near La Rochelle, scallops are fished by boats using drags with an opening of 1 m and a round leading edge. It is limited to two hours per day from November to March, in order to protect the stocks. Sixty to eighty small motor boats or sardine boats take part in this fishery, catching around 800 tonnes per year, that is to say half the production of the French deposits. Their commercial size has been limited to individuals longer than 35 mm, that is to say, depending on the year, 37 to 48 % of the individuals caught by the drags.